Sexual response differs during partnered sex and masturbation in men with and without sexual dysfunction: implications for treatment
DL Rowland, BD Hamilton, KR Bacys…�- The journal of sexual�…, 2021 - academic.oup.com
DL Rowland, BD Hamilton, KR Bacys, K Hevesi
The journal of sexual medicine, 2021•academic.oup.comBackground It is unclear whether men who experience sexual difficulty during partnered sex
experience similar difficulty during masturbation. Aim To determine whether sexual
functionality and dysfunctionality were similar or different during masturbation vs partnered
sex. Methods We compared sexual responsivity during masturbation vs partnered sex in a
multinational sample of 4,209 men with and without a sexual dysfunction to determine
whether dysfunctionality was greater, less, or about the same during these 2 types of sexual�…
experience similar difficulty during masturbation. Aim To determine whether sexual
functionality and dysfunctionality were similar or different during masturbation vs partnered
sex. Methods We compared sexual responsivity during masturbation vs partnered sex in a
multinational sample of 4,209 men with and without a sexual dysfunction to determine
whether dysfunctionality was greater, less, or about the same during these 2 types of sexual�…
Background
It is unclear whether men who experience sexual difficulty during partnered sex experience similar difficulty during masturbation.
Aim
To determine whether sexual functionality and dysfunctionality were similar or different during masturbation vs partnered sex.
Methods
We compared sexual responsivity during masturbation vs partnered sex in a multinational sample of 4,209 men with and without a sexual dysfunction to determine whether dysfunctionality was greater, less, or about the same during these 2 types of sexual activity.
Outcomes
Consistently lower impairment of sexual function was found during masturbation compared with partnered sex for all 3 sexual problems assessed: erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and delayed ejaculation.
Clinical Translation
These findings reiterate the potential value of assessing sexual responsivity during masturbation as well as melding masturbation strategies with couples therapy in order to attenuate impaired response during partnered sex.
Strength & Limitations
Although this study provides the first empirical evidence based on a large multinational sample indicating that sexual functionality is consistently higher during masturbation than partnered sex, it does not provide an empirically-derived explanation for this difference.
CONCLUSION
Understanding a man’s response potential during masturbation may be important to improving sexual response during partnered sex, with the need for more targeted research that more directly evaluates the use of such strategies in the treatment of men’s sexual problems.
Oxford University Press