Sex problems rampant in U.S.

Friday, February 12, 1999

Sex problems rampant in U.S.

SURVEY: Many men, women lack interest in intercourse, have
discomfort, study finds

By Emi Kojima

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Sex!

If that didn’t get your attention, don’t be surprised. After
all, a recent report found that many Americans lack enthusiasm
about sex.

A University of Chicago study released Tuesday found that more
than 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men regularly have no
interest in sex, can’t have an orgasm or suffer from some other
sexual dysfunction.

In what some call the most comprehensive U.S. sex survey since
the 1948 Kinsey Report, the results are raising eyebrows. And the
UCLA community certainly has an interest in its findings.

"That’s a big number!" said Jose Nunez, a third-year psychology
student. "(The men) aren’t doing it right. They need to explore
other things: stimulants, fetishes, toys. You’re only young
once."

Alana Cherr, a third-year art student, wasn’t surprised by the
study.

"It seems this society is really hung up on sex and, in my
opinion, has many dysfunctions," Cherr said.

Paul Abramson, a professor of psychology who teaches the "Human
Sexuality" class, wasn’t surprised either.

"There was an earlier study with comparable findings among
couples," Abramson said. "What’s distinctive about this study is
that it uses samples. This study used representative samples of
America’s populace. It’s a springboard (that suggests) sexual
dysfunction is extensive in couples of many ages."

The study’s researchers said problems with sex can be attributed
to anything from emotional and health problems to lack of time, job
pressures and money trouble. But they said they aren’t sure which
comes first – stress or problems with sex.

The report’s author, sociologist Edward Laumann, said, "It gives
us a base for explaining why we had this enormous response to
Viagra."

Abramson reiterated the idea: "The results go hand-in-hand with
the extensive usage of Viagra among men and women."

The study was published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American
Medical Association.

The researchers based their findings on the 1992 National Health
and Social Life Survey, a compilation of interviews with about
1,700 women and 1,400 men.

The participants, ages 18 to 59, were asked if they had
experienced sexual dysfunction over several months in the previous
year. Sexual dysfunction was defined as a regular lack of interest
in or pain during sex or persistent problems achieving lubrication,
an erection or orgasm.

Laumann said the findings could offer hope to millions, many of
whom think they’re the only ones having trouble in bed.

"Often they don’t even admit it to their partners. It’s the old
‘I’ve got a headache’ instead of ‘I don’t feel like having sex,’"
Laumann said.

The study also found:

* Lack of interest in sex was the most common problem for women,
with about one-third saying they regularly didn’t want sex.
Twenty-six percent said they regularly didn’t have orgasms and 23
percent said sex wasn’t pleasurable.

* About one-third of men said they had persistent problems with
climaxing too early, while 14 percent said they had no interest in
sex and 8 percent said they consistently derived no pleasure from
sex.

* The higher the education level of the respondents, the less
likely they were to report sexual problems.

* Overall, 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men said they
had one or more persistent problems with sex.

Stella Kim, a first-year Spanish linguistics student, suggests
that a focus on other goals takes up the time spent thinking about
sex.

"More people are finding out as they are more educated that they
have priorities set up for themselves and they don’t want to be
involved with sex," Kim said. "Education is a big thing. People
have a certain standard of morals and values that they have more
focus on, not on sex."

With reports from Bruin wire services.

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