Sexual difficulties, concerns, and satisfaction in homosexual men: An empirical study with implications for HIV prevention

Abstract

Minimal research has investigated the prevalence of sexual disorders in homosexual men. We examined sexual perfrmance concerns, problems, and satisfaction in a convenience sample of 197 homosexual men who attended a health seminar. Sexual dysfunction and sexual concerns were found tobe common problems. Almost all men reported some sexual difficulty over their lifetime, and morethan half reported a current sexual dificulty. A further 25% of the sampled men identajied othersexual concerns as well. Despite these figure, most participants–whether single, dating, or in a relationship-reported average to above-average sexual satisfaction. Correlates of sexual satisfaction included more liberal attitudes toward human sexuality, greater comfort with men's sexual attractions to other men, lower leuels of internalized homophobta, and greater satisfaction with one's relationship status. Painful receptive anal intercourse appeared to be a common, yet previously underacknowledged, disculty. Almost half of the respondents desm'bed HIV/AIDS as having a negative impact on their sexual functioning, with most reporting an increase infear of sex as the major negative outcome.