Estimating the Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction Using the New ICD-11 Guidelines

Area of Science:

• Sexual medicine
• Public health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The 11th edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) introduces new guidelines for diagnosing sexual dysfunction.
• Previous estimates of sexual dysfunction prevalence in Germany are limited and not based on the latest diagnostic criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of various sexual dysfunctions in Germany according to the forthcoming ICD-11 guidelines.
• To introduce a screening instrument for sexual dysfunction based on ICD-11 criteria.

Main Methods:

• A representative sample of 4955 men and women in Germany participated in the GeSiD study.
• Sexual dysfunction was assessed using a screening tool aligned with the new ICD-11 guidelines.
• Data collection involved a doubly stratified random sample from residence registration offices.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of any sexual problem with mild distress in the past year was 33.4% for men and 45.7% for women.
• Sexual dysfunction causing marked distress (ICD-11) affected 13.3% of sexually active men and 17.5% of sexually active women.
• Common dysfunctions included erectile dysfunction (men) and hypoactive sexual desire/orgasmic dysfunction (women); pain during sex was a significant issue for women.

Conclusions:

• Sexual dysfunction poses a significant challenge to sexual health in Germany.
• This study offers the first prevalence data based on ICD-11 criteria and a practical screening tool for clinical use.