[Absence of sexual dysfunction does not mean that the couple does not need sexual counseling]

Two-hundred women with sexual dysfunction were compared with 160 without. The number of the practising religious (46.0% vs 28.8%; p less than 0.05), of married women (58.0% vs 47.8%; p greater than 0.05), widows (4.0% vs 0%; p less than 0.01) or the separated were found in significantly higher numbers. Nulliparity does not appear to be a risk factor in sexual dysfunction. The use of contraceptive technique such as the pill and the intrauterine device is significantly lower in women with sexual dysfunction. Also significantly higher is the number of women with sexual dysfunction who report that they are not satisfied with their sexual relationship (63.0% vs 6.2%; p less than 0.001) or who would like to change the sexual behaviour of their partner (50.0% vs 7.5%; p less than or equal to 0.001) or whose husband would like a change in the sexual behaviour of the partner (64.0% vs 10.0%; p less than or equal to 0.001). 7.5% of women without sexual dysfunction consider their relationship with the current partner to be unsatisfactory. Most of these women experience their partner's request as a "problem". In conclusion, the presence of sexual dysfunction is unacceptable to women in the majority of cases as it is accompanied by a negative opinion on the quality of the sexual relationship. It is the Authors' opinion that anamnesis of the sexual life of the couple should be offered to all women who have a gynaecological examination. The absence of sexual dysfunction does not necessarily mean that the women or the couple consider their sexual relationship to be sexually satisfactory or that they do not need or would not accept, if expressly asked, sexual counseling.