(307) Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction and Pursuit of Sexual Medicine Evaluation Among Male Physicians

Abstract

Abstract Introduction While the epidemiology of male sexual dysfunction in the general population is well studied, little is known regarding the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in male physicians and their likelihood of seeking treatment. Objective To characterize the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, evaluation patterns, and barriers to treatment among male physicians. Methods Between June 2022 and October 2022, male physicians were invited to complete a questionnaire regarding sexual function. Surveys were disseminated electronically via social media and professional medical societies using Qualtrics (Provo, UT). Results 235 responses were included in the final analysis. The mean age of respondents was 36.3 ± 7.4 years. 27 (11.5%) reported having seen a doctor for sexual health. Of these 27,11 (40.7%) saw a physician for erectile dysfunction, 8 (29.6%) for low libido, 6 (22.2%) for premature ejaculation, 2 (7.4%) for delayed ejaculation, and 9 (33.3%) for some other concern. An additional 29 (13.9%) respondents considered establishing care for sexual issues but didn’t, mostly due to being too busy (N=18, 62.1%). Of the 56 respondents who had either seen or thought about seeing a physician for sexual health issues, the mean IIEF score was 24.4 ± 8.7 with 18 (32.1%) qualifying as having at least mild ED and 7 (12.5%) having severe ED (Table 2). 46 (19.6%) respondents reported having taken medication to improve erectile function. Only 12 (5.1%) respondents reported having ever been diagnosed with low testosterone. Among the 56 respondents who had either seen or thought about seeing a physician for sexual health issues, those who worked more hours (>60 hours per week) were least likely to see a physician (7.2%) compared to those working the fewest hours (33.3%), p=0.02. Conclusions In a cohort of young male physicians, 25.4% had seen or considered seeing a doctor for sexual health concerns, and nearly 1 in 5 had taken medication for erectile dysfunction. Given the highly demanding work schedules, occupational stress, and a variety of other factors associated the medical profession, male physicians appear to be at higher risk for sexual dysfunction than the general population. Moreover, male physicians face significant and unique barriers in access to care for sexual dysfunction. Disclosure No.