How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Sexual Health of Partnered Men?

Abstract

Objective: Mental health and human psychology have been negatively affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since psychomental status and sexual health are related, it is possible that the sexual health of couples may be affected along with their mental health. We aimed to perform a quantitative evaluation of male partners’ sexual lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A hundred-sixteen men filled out our online survey in which International Erectile Index Score (IIEF) was embedded. The relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and stress, economical concerns, workload, etc. was questioned. Results: Twenty-nine people had not had intercourse for more than 1 month. Twenty-one of them (72.4%) showed pandemic-related relationship sexual avoidance behaviour. 55.2% of survey respondents who also filled IIEF questionnaire were economically affected by the pandemic, 66.7% were psychologically affected and 71.2% were significantly or somewhat sexually affected. the total average of the erectile function score was 25.95±5.4. These scores indicate a slight predominance of ED. Conclusion: It is clear the COVID-19 pandemic affects people’s sex lives in myriad of negative ways. We believe that many the domestic problems likely to develop as a result of lockdowns and other measures intended to prevent virus spread can be prevented or reduced by facilitating healthy sex lives between couples.