Sexual and marital dysfunction and polypartnerism in STD clinic attenders

Abstract

Abstract Sexual dysfunctions are common in STD clinic attenders. Marital/relationship dysfunctions frequently follow specific sexual dysfunctions such as erectile difficulties, impotence and premature ejaculation. In addition concomitant marital therapy has been shown to enhance treatment for sexual dysfunction. Polypartnerism, or multiple or serial sexual partners, is also a common feature of STD clinic attenders. To date no study has fully evaluated the social, psychological and medical determinants of this behaviour. The study examined the relationship between sexual dysfunction, marital difficulties and polypartnerism in 50 heterosexual STD clinic attenders. Thirty-one per cent of the sample had pathological scores on the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Forty-two per cent of the sample had pathological scores on the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Marital Satisfaction (GRIMS). There was a significant relationship between sexual dysfunction and marital dysfunction. Polypartnerism was...