A third of young people experience sexual problems, research finds

More than a third of young people have experienced a prolonged sexual problem in the last year, research has suggested.

Despite often being more commonly associated with older generations, the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles found issues including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or problems climaxing affect many people in their late teens and early twenties.

The study, which is the largest scientific study of sexual health lifestyles in Britain, found among sexually active people aged 16-21, 34 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women have experienced one or more sexual problems lasting at least 3 months in the last year.

The study noted that in addition to the physical syptoms, emotional and psychological effects were also attached to sexual dysfunction as 9 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women told researchers that they had been left feeling distressed by a sexual problem in the last year.

The most common distressing problems for women include: difficulty reaching climax (6 per cent), being disinterested in sex (5 per cent). Among men, common distressing problems include climaxing too quickly (5 per cent) and difficulty getting and keeping an erection (3 per cent).

Yet despite the emotional distress felt, few sought professional help, perhaps due to social stigma and lack of education about sexual issues. Just 4 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women who experienced a problem sought medical help.

Lead author Dr Kirstin Mitchell said: “When it comes to young people’s sexuality, professional concern is usually focussed on preventing sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. However, we should be considering sexual health much more broadly, as sexual difficulties can impact on young people’s sexual wellbeing in the longer term.

“Our findings show that distressing sexual problems are not only experienced by older people in Britain – they are in fact relatively common in early adulthood as well.”

Study co-author Professor Kaye Wellings from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “UK sex education is often silent on issues of sexual satisfaction, but these are clearly important to young people and should be addressed.

“Sex education could do much more to debunk myths about sex, discuss pleasure and promote gender equality in relationships. Teaching young people the importance of communication and respect within relationships is also key to helping them understand and address problems that may occur in their sex lives.”