<p>Objectives: This descriptive epidemiological dissertation aims to identify conditions of Swedish women’s sexual well-being. The focus is on the relationship between their idiosyncratically reported levels, during the last 12 months, of 5 sexual functions/dysfunctions per se and distressing and their socio-psychological situation, including aspects of their sexual history. Levels of sexual functions/dysfunctions are also related to levels of sexual satisfaction and to other aspects of life satisfaction.</p><p>Methods: Data on a randomized cross-sectional national sample of 1335 women aged 18-74 (59% of target sample) were gathered in 1996 using a combination of structured interviews and questionnaires/checklists. Analyses were performed for the total sample or for sub-samples aged 18-65 years. In 3 of the 4 dissertational articles, trichotomies of a 6-grade scale characterizing level of sexual dysfunctions into No/Mild/Manifest dysfunction were used.</p><p>Main results: Mild sexual dysfunctions were, generally, much more common than were manifest, and dysfunctional distress was considerably less common than were dysfunctions per se. All dysfunctions, and in particular orgasmic dysfunction, were closely associated with level of sexual well-being. Four factors independently pair-wise linking levels of dysfunctions per se with levels of distressful dysfunction were identified. These were Sexual interest/Desire, Genital function (lubrication and dyspareunia), Orgasm, Vaginismus. Three of these (not vaginismus) were powerful classificators of gross level of sexual well-being. Many of socio-demographic and socio-psychological contextual life-conditions were significantly associated with the different sexual functions/dysfunctions. However, the most prominent contextual variables were satisfaction with partner relationship and partner’s levels of sexual functions.</p><p>In conclusion, many different socio-psychological aspects must be taken into account to optimize treatment modalities and resources when dealing with women’s sexual dysfunction in order to secure a good level of sexual well-being.</p>

Objectives: This descriptive epidemiological dissertation aims to identify conditions of Swedish women’s sexual well-being. The focus is on the relationship between their idiosyncratically reported levels, during the last 12 months, of 5 sexual functions/dysfunctions per se and distressing and their socio-psychological situation, including aspects of their sexual history. Levels of sexual functions/dysfunctions are also related to levels of sexual satisfaction and to other aspects of life satisfaction. Methods: Data on a randomized cross-sectional national sample of 1335 women aged 18-74 (59% of target sample) were gathered in 1996 using a combination of structured interviews and questionnaires/checklists. Analyses were performed for the total sample or for sub-samples aged 18-65 years. In 3 of the 4 dissertational articles, trichotomies of a 6-grade scale characterizing level of sexual dysfunctions into No/Mild/Manifest dysfunction were used. Main results: Mild sexual dysfunctions were, generally, much more common than were manifest, and dysfunctional distress was considerably less common than were dysfunctions per se. All dysfunctions, and in particular orgasmic dysfunction, were closely associated with level of sexual well-being. Four factors independently pair-wise linking levels of dysfunctions per se with levels of distressful dysfunction were identified. These were Sexual interest/Desire, Genital function (lubrication and dyspareunia), Orgasm, Vaginismus. Three of these (not vaginismus) were powerful classificators of gross level of sexual well-being. Many of socio-demographic and socio-psychological contextual life-conditions were significantly associated with the different sexual functions/dysfunctions. However, the most prominent contextual variables were satisfaction with partner relationship and partner’s levels of sexual functions. In conclusion, many different socio-psychological aspects must be taken into account to optimize treatment modalities and resources when dealing with women’s sexual dysfunction in order to secure a good level of sexual well-being.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur sexologer beskriver lust samt arbetar med par kring lustfrågor. Låg lust kan beskrivas som ett folkhälsoproblem och i takt med ökat behov av behandling har sexologin som profession vuxit fram. Sjutton sexologer intervjuades och empirin analyserades tematiskt med systemteori som referensram. Sexologernas berättelser visar att lust är ett relationellt begrepp som samspelar med existentiella, samhälleliga, par- och individuella systemnivåer. Sexologernas arbetssätt är skräddarsydda för de patienter de möter. Sexologerna skapar allians med båda i paret och försöker härbärgera patienternas lidande. De reflekterar över sin expertroll och arbetar eklektiskt med teorier och metoder för att hjälpa par vid lustolikheter. De hjälper par med avslappningsövningar, sensualitetsträning och kommunikation. / The purpose of the project is to investigate how sexologists describe sexual desire and work with it in couple´s therapy. The background is that low desire can be described as a public health problem and the profession of sexology has therefore emerged as an interaction with the increased need for counselling. Seventeen sexologists were interviewed and thematic analysis with system theory as a reference frame was performed. Based on the stories of the sexologists, results show that desire is a relational concept that interacts with existential-, social-, couples- and individual systems. The sexologists' way of working is tailor-made for the patients they meet. They create alliance within the couple and try to harbour the patients' suffering. They reflect on their expert role, working eclectically with theories and methods to assist couples in sexual desire. They help couples through relaxation exercises, sensuality training and communication.