An Exploration of Returning Veterans' Sexual Health Issues Using a Brief Self-Report Measure

Sexual health is an integral aspect of quality of life with important implications for satisfaction with intimate relationships, emotional well-being, and life as a whole. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan frequently encounter a wide range of known risk factors for sexual health concerns.

This article seeks to examine the overall frequency, important covariates associated with sexual difficulties, and the relevant domains of sexual dysfunction among a group of recent US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is a retrospective chart review of 247 veterans of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan evaluated for an initial visit at the post-deployment clinic of a large veterans affairs medical center (VAMC). Patient demographic and medical characteristics were calculated using descriptive statistics. The prevalence and burden of sexual health issues in our patient sample were calculated using descriptive statistics from these veterans' responses to a self-report measure of sexual functioning. Item-level regression analyses were then conducted between sexual functioning responses and other patient data.

The main outcome measures used were the responses to the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX).

Almost 18% of veterans screened positive for sexual functioning difficulties. Self-reported sexual dysfunction was most strongly associated with depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, female sex, and service connection rating. Co-occurring characteristics varied with specific areas of sexual functioning.

Screening using an empirically validated self-report instrument indicates that there is a high prevalence of reported sexual dysfunction among recently deployed veterans. Analyses indicated that there are specific characteristics associated with both overall self-reported sexual dysfunction and specific subtypes of sexual dysfunction. Active assessment of specific aspects of sexual dysfunction concerns may allow providers to identify and implement more precise sexual functioning interventions. Beaulieu GR, Latini DM, Helmer DA, Powers-James C, Houlette C, and Kauth MR. An exploration of returning veterans sexual health issues using a brief self-report measure. Sex Med 2015;3:287-294.