Prevalence of sexual complaints in subjects aged 20 to 40 consulting at the central hospital of Yaoundé

Abstract

Background: Male sexual dysfunction is a problem that is becoming more common with the increase in life expectancy. Few data are available in sub-Saharan Africa, and in Cameroon, no study has been documented. The objective was to determine the prevalence of sexual complaints among subjects aged 20 to 40 consulting the Urology Service at the Central Hospital of Yaoundé. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at the Central Hospital of Yaoundé over a 4-month period from January 1 to April 30, 2019. Men aged 20 to 40, sexually active, and freely consenting to participate were included in our study (66 had sexual complaints and 39 had other complaints). Results :105 patients were included in the study, with 66 reporting sexual complaints and 39 presenting other complaints. The average age of our study population was 31.7 years. Alcohol was found in 60.6% of cases, followed by tobacco at 30.3% for toxicological history. 78.7% of patients were overweight. Digital rectal examination was mostly normal; however, hemorrhoids were the most common finding at 14.2%. Decreased libido was very common in our study population, with a proportion of 41%, followed by erectile dysfunction at 37.1%. 66.3% of patients had a normal ejaculation time of 1 to 20 minutes. 21.2% of patients had premature ejaculation. 80.3% of patients had a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score higher than 27. 9.2% of patients had severe erectile dysfunction according to the IIEF5 score. 3.8% of patients had low testosterone levels. 62.2% of patients had never talked to anyone in their circle about sexual problems. 68.1% of patients resorted to self-medication, while 18.1% turned to traditional medicine. Conclusion: Despite the increasing frequency of sexual disorders worldwide, the subject remains taboo in our context, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment.