Central sensitization symptoms in vulvodynia: exploring the role of temperament, personality traits, childhood adverse events, defense mechanisms, and mental pain on quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by persistent vulvar pain, occurring without clinically identifiable disorders. Central sensitization (CS) is suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology of vulvodynia, as for other nociplastic pain conditions. AIM: This study delves into the complex interplay between psychosocial factors and CS burden in women with vulvodynia, aiming to identify potential predictors (temperament, personality traits, childhood adverse events, defense mechanisms, and mental pain) and understand their impact on quality of life (QoL). METHODS: A cohort-based cross-sectional web survey of 357 women with vulvodynia. OUTCOMES: Outcomes included 8 self-report measures to assess the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) and psychological variables, including sensory processing sensitivity, traumatic experiences, personality traits, defense mechanisms, and mental pain. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted in study 1, revealing that the following predicted higher CSI scores in women with vulvodynia: higher emotional overexcitability, decreased low sensory threshold, increased bodily threat experiences, elevated psychoticism, greater use of immature and neurotic defense mechanisms, and heightened mental pain. The final regression model identified the following as the strongest predictors of CS: low sensory threshold (ß = 0.316), bodily threat experiences (ß = 0.145), neurotic defenses (ß = 0.210), and mental pain (ß = 0.269). In study 2, the model presented interactions among these psychological factors in predicting CSI values explaining 48.9% of the variance in CS, 30.3% in psychological QoL, and 57.1% in physical QoL. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: This model opens discussion for tailored psychological interventions aimed to improve overall QoL in women with vulvodynia. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths of the study include innovative insights into the interplay between psychological variables and the construct of CS and quality of life. As a limitation, the research was conducted as a cross-sectional study with self-reported measures. CONCLUSION: The study calls for comprehensive assessments that consider physical and mental aspects, paving the way for holistic health care approaches in the management of vulvodynia.

Psychosexological correlates of 372 women with vulvodynia, overactive pelvic floor, postcoital cystitis, and interstitial cystitis.

BACKGROUND: Among the plethora of urogynecological conditions possibly affecting women, some of them, less explored, have significant impacts on sexological and psychological health, with a mutual influence. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the sexological and psychological correlates of four urogynecological pathologies in a sample of women of childbearing age: overactive pelvic floor, vulvodynia, postcoital cystitis, and interstitial cystitis. Women cured of these conditions were also included, to assess the same aspects after the remission of physical symptoms. METHODS: We recruited 372 women with an average age of 33.5 years through an online platform shared by a popular forum for women with urogynecological pathologies between March and May 2021. The participants filled out a socio-anamnestic questionnaire and a set of psychometric tests. OUTCOMES: Participant data were collected by use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, Female Sexual Function Index, and Orgasmometer-F, and the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) v.26 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Overactive pelvic floor was reported by 66.4% of the women, vulvodynia by 55%, postcoital cystitis by 58.8%, and interstitial cystitis by 8.3%, and these conditions were often comorbid with each other, with 9.4% and 7% of women reporting having suffered psychological and sexual abuse, respectively. The presence of past abuse was correlated with overactive pelvic floor (P < .05), vulvodynia (P < .01), and major depression (P < .01). Significantly more depression occurred in women with vulvodynia than in the other subgroups (P < .05), except for women with only an overactive pelvic floor. There was no difference between the subgroups in the occurrence of alexithymia, sexual function, and orgasm (P < .05). Interestingly, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction increased in cured women. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The lack of significant differences, except for depression, between the pathological subgroups suggests a similar clinical and psychological relevance of the four pathologies studied. The persistence of sexual dysfunctions in cured women may be related to a residual dysfunctional relational modality with the partner. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The evaluation of both psychological and sexological variables in a group of less-explored urogynecological conditions represents a strength of this study, while a lack of a face-to-face assessment could represent a limitation. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study should promote psychosexological interventions in women with these diseases, both during the pathological state and after remission.

Sexual and reproductive health: level of knowledge and source of information in adolescence.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is a lack of a structured national plan of sexual education in Italy, with large interregional differences and poor uniformity in the promotion and learning of sexual health. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge on sexuality and reproductive function among adolescents before and after a sexual education program, considering gender differences in the results. METHODS: A longitudinal and interventional study was conducted on high school students. Six sessions for each class were carried out by a multidisciplinary team. Anonymous questionnaires were administered to investigate basic knowledge of human sexuality and reproduction before and after intervention. OUTCOMES: Participants were high school students who completed the questionnaires. Outcomes included pre and posttest answers on the knowledge questionnaire in study population. RESULTS: We obtained data from 842 high school students (mean ± SD age, 16.11 ± 1.74 years). The main informative sources on sexuality were social media in 37.9% of participants; family, school, and scientific material were the main source in 15.1%, 5.2%, and 4.4%, respectively. A total score of 12.6 ± 3.4 (range, 1-20) was obtained on the knowledge questionnaire; specifically, the score was higher in females than males (12.8 ± 3.4 vs 11.9 ± 3.4, P = .0001). In males and females, a statistically significant increase in level of knowledge was found after the multidisciplinary intervention (14.5 ± 3.6, P = .0001). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The lack of sexual education programs in schools in Italy compels adolescents to refer to frequently unreliable sources, such as social media and peers, contributing to misinformation and adoption of risky sexual behaviors. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study is based on a large sample size and highlights the importance of sexual education programs. The main limitations are a greater representation of the female population and the inclusive nature of the school (ie, an artistic school), attracting students who identify with sexual minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents have limited knowledge about sexuality and reproduction, with a notable gender disparity; sexual education programs in schools, providing information from sexuality experts, led to a substantial increase in knowledge and a reduction in the gender gap.

Central sensitivity in fibromyalgia: testing a model to explain the role of psychological factors on functioning and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: Central sensitivity (CS) is defined as an increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system to normal or subthreshold inputs. CS has recently been linked to the psychological burden associated with chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia (FM). The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of specific psychological constructs on CS in patients with FM. In Study 1, we explore the influence of temperament, personality, childhood trauma, defence mechanisms, and mental pain on CS. In Study 2, our goal is to test the role of the best predictors of CS in influencing quality of life (QoL) and FM functioning through a path analysis model. METHODS: A total of 510 women with FM participated online, completing a self-administered protocol. Data collection took place between April and June of 2023. RESULTS: In Study 1, higher levels of low sensory threshold (ß=0.210), traumatic experiences of physical threat (ß=0.141), neurotic defences (ß=0.124), and mental pain (ß=0.241) emerged as the strongest predictors of increased CS. In Study 2, the presented model demonstrated a satisfactory fit (chi2=27.200; df=10; p=0.002; GFI=0.984; NFI=0.949; CFI=0.967; RMSEA=0.061 [95% CI 0.034-0.090]) with large and medium effect sizes on physical (-0.576) and psychological (-0.190) QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the pivotal role of psychological dimensions in influencing CS levels and their relationships with QoL in patients with FM.

Capacity to love and problematic sexuality: the role of defense mechanisms and psychopathological suffering.

BACKGROUND: Limitation to the capacity to love is often a feature of a suffering personality. AIM: We aimed to investigate the role of the capacity to love in hypersexual behavior, considering both distress and defense mechanisms as possible psychological mediators. METHODS: Through an online platform, we recruited a convenience sample of 521 subjects (390 [74.9%] females and 131 [25.1%] males; mean [SD] age, 26.46 [5.89] years). OUTCOMES: Recruited subjects completed a psychometric protocol that included completion of the following measurement tools: (1) the Capacity to Love Inventory (CTL-I), (2) the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI), (3) the 30-item self-report Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale, and (4) the Brief Symptom Inventory. We then performed correlation and regression analyses and used a mediation model for data analysis. RESULTS: A significant negative relationship between the capacity to love and hypersexual behavior was found. Furthermore, indirect effects were also statistically significant, supporting the hypothesis that limitation to the capacity to love is related to hypersexuality through the paths of psychological distress and immature defense mechanisms. Finally, compared to the other subjects, those with pathological scores for the HBI showed significantly lower scores on the CTL-I, which suggested limitations to the capacity to love. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The relationship between limitation to the capacity to love and hypersexuality is fundamental to the diagnostic process in persons with problematic sexuality and psychopathological distress. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study is the first, to our knowledge, to highlight the role of the capacity to love in sexual behavior, although future studies in specific clinical sample groups would be suitable for further investigation of the relationships among the considered variables. CONCLUSION: The etiology of limitation in the capacity to love is related to dysfunctional aspects of psychological functioning, such as psychological distress and immature defense mechanisms, and these factors together generate problematic sexuality such as hypersexual behavior. Our results highlight the central role in mental and sexual health of the capacity to love. Based on these findings, clinicians should take these aspects into consideration for diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with problematic sexuality.

Benefits of Sexual Activity on Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Health During the COVID-19 Breakout.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19-related lockdown has profoundly changed human behaviors and habits, impairing general and psychological well-being. Along with psychosocial consequences, it is possible that sexual behavior was also affected. AIMS: With the present study, we evaluated the impact of the community-wide containment and consequent social distancing on the intrapsychic, relational, and sexual health through standardized psychometric tools. METHODS: A case-control study was performed through a web-based survey and comparing subjects of both genders with (group A, N = 2,608) and without (group B, N = 4,213) sexual activity during lockdown. The Welch and chi-square tests were used to assess differences between groups. Univariate analysis of covariance, logistic regression models, and structural equation modeling were performed to measure influence and mediation effects of sexual activity on psychological, relational, and sexual outcomes. OUTCOMES: Main outcome measures were General Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, Dyadic Adjustment Scale for quality of relationship and a set of well-validated sexological inventories (International Index of Erectile Function, Female Sexual Function Index, and male-female versions of the Orgasmometer). RESULTS: Anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower in subjects sexually active during lockdown. Analysis of covariance identified gender, sexual activity, and living without partner during lockdown as significantly affecting anxiety and depression scores (P < .0001). Logistic regression models showed that lack of sexual activity during lockdown was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing anxiety and depression (OR: 1.32 [95% CI: 1.12 - 1.57, P < .001] and 1.34 [95% CI: 1.15 - 1.57, P < .0001], respectively). Structural equation modeling evidenced the protective role of sexual activity toward psychological distress (ßmales = -0.18 and ßfemales = -0.14), relational health (ßmales = 0.26 and ßfemales = 0.29) and sexual health, both directly (ßmales = 0.43 and ßfemales = 0.31), and indirectly (ßmales = 0.13 and ßfemales = 0.13). CLINICAL TRANSLATION: The demonstrated mutual influence of sexual health on psychological and relational health could direct the clinical community toward a reinterpretation of the relationship among these factors. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Based on a large number of subjects and well-validated psychometric tools, this study elucidated the protective role of sexual activity for psychological distress, as well for relational and sexual health. Main limitations were the web-based characteristics of the protocol and the retrospective nature of prelockdown data on psychorelational and sexual health of subjects recruited. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 lockdown dramatically impacted on psychological, relational, and sexual health of the population. In this scenario, sexual activity played a protective effect, in both genders, on the quarantine-related plague of anxiety and mood disorders. Mollaioli D, Sansone A, Ciocca G, et al. Benefits of Sexual Activity on Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Health During the COVID-19 Breakout. J Sex Med 2021;18:35-49.

Validity of Erectile Function Assessment Questionnaires in Premature Ejaculation Patients: A Comparative Study Between the Abridged Forms of the International Index of Erectile Function and Proposal for Optimal Cutoff Redefinition.

BACKGROUND: Patients with premature ejaculation (PE) are often diagnosed as having a comorbid erectile dysfunction (ED). When evaluating erectile function in PE patients with the popular International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5, or Sexual Health Inventory for Men [SHIM]), question #5 (Q5) about sexual satisfaction in the intercourse often lowers the total score of the questionnaire, giving false-positive results for the presence of ED. AIM: We aimed to compare SHIM with the other abridged form of IIEF, which is IIEF-EF, and to discriminate which tool has the best diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of erectile function in PE patients. METHODS: The study was conducted from March 2019 to January 2020. A total of 189 heterosexual males with lifelong PE (117, 61.9%) or acquired PE (72, 38.1%) were included. They all compiled Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, IIEF-15, SHIM, and IIEF-EF and underwent a full clinical examination to evaluate their erectile function. OUTCOMES: The scores of the 2 erectile function assessment questionnaires (SHIM and IIEF-EF) were compared in terms of their sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of ED in PE patients. RESULTS: In terms of diagnosing ED in PE patients, the sensitivity of SHIM is 100% while the specificity is only 36%; meanwhile, the sensitivity of IIEF-EF is 100% but specificity is 77.2%. Further analysis demonstrates that decreasing cutoff of SHIM to 17.5 would provide an increased specificity of 82.5%, while sensitivity would lower to 96.0%. However, the highest area under the curve (0.966 vs 0.941) is given by the IIEF-EF with 100% sensitivity and 80.7% specificity at the cutoff of 24.5, which is one point lower than the usual cutoff value of 25.5. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our study suggests that when evaluating erection function in PE patients, the cutoff of both SHIM and IIEF-EF should be amended. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: We proposed the solution for the bias of erectile function assessment in PE patients. However, other trials are needed to further validate in larger cohorts of PE patients. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the cutoff of SHIM and IIEF-EF should be amended (SHIM at 17.5 and IIEF-EF at 24.5, respectively) when assessing erectile function among PE population. Xi Y, Colonnello E, Ma G, et al. Validity of Erectile Function Assessment Questionnaires in Premature Ejaculation Patients: A Comparative Study Between the Abridged Forms of the International Index of Erectile Function and Proposal for Optimal Cutoff Redefinition. J Sex Med 2021;18:440-447.

The Gynogram: A Multicentric Validation of a New Psychometric Tool to Assess Coital Pain Associated With VVA and Its Impact on Sexual Quality of Life in Menopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Vulvo-Vaginal Atrophy (VVA) affects about fifty percent of postmenopausal women, contributing more vulnerable sexual and psycho-relational equilibrium. To date, no psychometric instruments have been designed to assess the impact of coital pain associated with VVA on sexual quality of life. AIM: To validate a new psychometric tool, the Gynogram, able to investigate coital pain and to quantify its impact on sexual well-being in menopause. METHODS: 214 sexually active postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study during clinical consultations in gynecological outpatient clinics in Italy. After gynecological examination and evaluation of the presence of VVA, the study sample was divided in a clinical group (103 women with certified diagnosis of VVA) and in a control group (111 women without certified diagnosis of VVA) according to the Vaginal Health Index (VHI) cut-off. Factor, Reliability and Receiving Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis were performed in order to validate our newly created Gynogram. OUTCOMES: A structured questionnaire, named Gynogram, to assess coital pain and its impact, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: The factor analysis performed on the original form (80 items) reduced the Gynogram to 24 items. Reliability analysis conducted with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients showed high values in all the components (ranging from .813 to .972), both in the long and in the short form. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the Gynogram, with a cut-off ≤93, is able to recognize a clinically significant coital pain. With respect to the FSFI, statistically significant differences were found for all the domains. In addition, statistically significant differences were found for all the twelve factors of the Gynogram, showing that VVA profoundly affects the sexual quality of life of women in post-menopause. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: The utility of this tool consists in the possibility to improve prognosis, compliance/adherence and treatment outcomes. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The Gynogram is able to evaluate and to quantify the impact of coital pain associated with VVA. Moreover, it can also recognize the areas of biopsychosocial functioning being more affected by this clinical condition. The main limit of the study is the impossibility to evaluate both mental health and partner's general and sexual health. CONCLUSIONS: The Gynogram is a new and validated psychometric tool able to detect the impact of symptomatic VVA on sexual quality of life among post-menopausal women, with a specific focus on the different areas of sexual functioning. Nappi RE, Graziottin A, Mollaioli A, et al. The Gynogram: A Multicentric Validation of a New Psychometric Tool to Assess Coital Pain Associated With VVA and Its Impact on Sexual Quality of Life in Menopausal Women. J Sex Med 2021;18:955-965.

Lifestyles and sexuality in men and women: the gender perspective in sexual medicine.

Sexual health is strictly related with general health in both genders. In presence of a sexual dysfunction, the expert in sexual medicine aims to discover the specific weight of the physical and psychological factors can cause or con-cause the sexual problem. At the same time, a sexual dysfunction can represent a marker of the future development of a Non-communicable diseases (NCDss) as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases.In the evaluation phase, the sexual health specialist must focus on these aspects, focusing especially on the risk and protective factors that could impact on both male and female sexuality.This article presents a review of researches concerning healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their contribute in the development of sexual quality of life in a gender-dependent manner.Among the unhealthy lifestyle, obesity contributes mostly to the development of sexual dysfunctions, due to its negative impact on cardiovascular and metabolic function. Tobacco smoking, alcohol - substance abuse and chronic stress lead to the development of sexual dysfunction in a med-long term.In order to guarantee a satisfying sexual quality of life, sexual health specialists have the responsibility to guide the patient through the adoption of healthy lifestyles, such as avoiding drugs, smoke and excessive alcohol, practicing a regular physical activity, following a balanced diet and use stress-management strategies, even before proposing both pharmaco- and/or psychotherapies.

The Masturbation Erection Index (MEI): validation of a new psychometric tool, derived from the six-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6) and from the Erection Hardness Score (EHS), for measuring erectile function during masturbation.

OBJECTIVES: To validate a psychometric instrument, the Masturbation Erection Index (MEI) able to evaluate erectile function (EF) during masturbation. In fact, although the evaluation of EF during masturbation is pivotal in evaluating erectile dysfunction (ED), to date no specific psychometric tools have been developed to measure it both in the routine clinical practice and in the experimental setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 560 men attending our andrological outpatient clinic for the first time, 99 (17.7%) had ED. As a control group, we enrolled 102 sexually healthy men. All the men were requested to complete both the six-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6) and the MEI. The MEI was used together with a standardised tool, the Erection Hardness Score (EHS). The MEI was validated in terms of content validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach's α. The comparability between the MEI and IIEF-6 in measuring EF was tested by Bland-Altman analysis. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) between the two questionnaires was also determined. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the MEI was >0.93. Test-retest reliability was 0.982 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.975-0.987). Bland-Altman analysis showed a good level of agreement between the IIEF-6 and MEI in the whole ED population, with stronger agreement in the organic-ED subpopulation. The estimated area under the curve of the MEI was 0.983 (P < 0.001; 95% CI 0.954-0.996), with a score of ≤27 as the optimal threshold to discriminate between the presence and absence of ED during self-induced masturbation. The CCC, Pearson ρ and bias correction factor (Cb) were 0.951 (95% CI 0.936-0.962), 0.968, and 0.982, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MEI showed good internal consistency and a good level of agreement with the IIEF-6. Hence, the MEI fulfills the major psychometric requirements for measuring EF during masturbation.

Outcome of Medical and Psychosexual Interventions for Vaginismus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Although vaginismus is a condition with a great impact on psychosexual well-being, the evidence on the efficacy of interventions is lacking. AIM: To review all information on vaginismus treatment, including data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and ClinicalTrials.gov. 2 Independent meta-analyses of RCTs and observational studies were performed. For RCTs, only those having no treatment as the comparator were considered eligible. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was the success rate (number of successes/total sample) in the completion of sexual intercourse. RESULTS: 43 Observational studies (n = 1,660) and 3 RCTs (n = 264) were included in the final analyses, respectively. In the meta-analysis of RCTs, the use of psychological interventions showed a trend toward a significantly better result vs waiting list control (OR 10.27 [95% CI 0.79-133.5], P = .075). The combination of the results obtained from the observational studies showed that treating vaginismus is associated with the completion of sexual penetrative intercourse in 79% of cases, independently of the therapy used (success rate 0.79 [0.74-0.83]). When only moderate- or strong-quality studies were considered, the success rate was 0.82 (0.73-0.89). As for the different definitions of vaginismus, studies with unconsummated marriage as the inclusion criterion showed the worst success rate (0.68). The origin of vaginismus (primary, secondary, or both), its duration, the mean age of the participants, the involvement of the partner in the intervention, or the geographic setting did not exert a significant effect on the outcome. Studies enrolling women with unconsummated marriage showed a significantly worse success rate. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: No approach is superior to the others in allowing the achievement of penetrative intercourse in women with vaginismus. STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS: Only studies specifically enrolling patients with vaginismus were selected, and analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat approach. The main limitations are the small number of trials in the meta-analysis of RCTs and the lack of a comparison group in the meta-analysis of observational studies, which cannot rule out a placebo effect. Due to the limited evidence available, great caution is required in the interpretation of results. Further well-designed trials, with more appropriate outcomes than penetrative sex, are required. CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis of RCTs documented a trend toward higher efficacy of active treatment vs controls, whereas the meta-analysis of observational studies indicated that women with vaginismus benefit from a range of treatments in almost 80% of cases. Maseroli E, Scavello I, Rastrelli G, et al. Outcome of Medical and Psychosexual Interventions for Vaginismus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med 2018;15:1752-1764.

Interplay Between Premature Ejaculation and Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The specific determinants and underlying factors linking erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) have yet to be clearly identified. AIM: The aim of this study was to review and meta-analyze all available data regarding the link between ED and PE. METHODS: An extensive Medline Embase and Cochrane search was performed including the following words: "premature ejaculation" and "erectile dysfunction". MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All observational trials comparing the risk of ED in relation to PE were included. Data extraction was performed independently by two of the authors (G.R, G.C.), and conflicts resolved by the third investigator (M.M.). RESULTS: Out of 474 retrieved articles, 18 were included in the study for a total of 57,229 patients, of which 12,144 (21.2%) had PE. The presence of PE, however defined, was associated with a significant increase in ED risk (odds ratio: 3.68[2.61;5.18]; P < 0.0001). Meta-regression analysis showed that the risk of ED in PE subjects was higher in older individuals as well as in those with a lower level of education and in those who reported a stable relationship less frequently. In addition, subjects with PE and ED more often reported anxiety and depressive symptoms and a lower prevalence of organic associated morbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. All the latter associations were confirmed even after adjustment for age. Finally the risk of PE-related ED increased with the increased proportion of acquired ejaculatory problems (adj r = 0.414; P < 0.0001 after the adjustment for age). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present data showed that ED and PE are not distinctly separate entities, but should be considered from a dimensional point of view. Understanding this dimensional perspective might help sexual health care professionals in providing the most appropriate therapeutic approach to realistically increase patient related outcomes in sexual medicine.

Pregnant Women's Preferences for Men's Faces Differ Significantly from Nonpregnant Women.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that women's preferences for facial characteristics in men's faces change according to menstrual phase and sexual hormones. Literature indicates that the pregnancy is characterized by a specific sexual hormonal pattern with respect to all other physiological conditions concerning the sexual hormone status during the reproductive age, configuring this physiological condition as an excellent surrogate to study how the sexual hormones may affect many of the aspects concerning the sexual behavior. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate pregnancy as a model of hormonal influence on women's facial preferences in short-term and long-term relationships and compare the choices of pregnant women with those of nonpregnant women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurement of women's preferences for synthetic men's faces, morphed from hyper-masculine to hypomasculine shape. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six women in the third trimester of pregnancy, and 70 nonpregnant women took part in the study. All women were shown a composite male face. The sexual dimorphism of the images was enhanced or reduced in a continuous fashion using an open-source morphing program that produced a sequence of 21 pictures of the same face warped from a feminized to a masculinized shape. RESULTS: Pregnant women's choices differed significantly from those of nonpregnant women. In fact, in the context of both a hypothetical short- (M = -0.4 ± 0.11) and long-term relationship (M = -0.4 ± 0.07) pregnant women showed a clear preference for a less masculine man's face than the other group (short-term: M = 0.15 ± 0.13; long-term: M = -0.06 ± 0.15; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Women in the third trimester of pregnancy clearly prefer more feminine men's faces, distancing themselves from the choices of women in other physiological conditions concerning the sexual hormonal status during the reproductive age. However, other psychosocial variables may explain this interesting finding.

Psychoticism, Immature Defense Mechanisms and a Fearful Attachment Style are Associated with a Higher Homophobic Attitude.

INTRODUCTION: Homophobic behavior and a negative attitude toward homosexuals are prevalent among the population. Despite this, few researches have investigated the psychologic aspects associated with homophobia, as psychopathologic symptoms, the defensive system, and attachment styles. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychologic factors mentioned earlier and their correlation with homophobia. METHODS: Five hundred fifty-one university students recruited, aged 18-30, were asked to complete several psychometric evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In particular, Homophobia Scale (HS) was used to assess homophobia levels, the Symptoms Check List Revised (SCL-90-R) for the identification of psychopathologic symptoms, the Defence Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40) for the evaluation of defense mechanisms and the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) for attachment styles. RESULTS: After a regression analysis, we found a significant predictive value of psychoticism (ß = 0.142; P = 0.04) and of immature defense mechanisms (ß = 0.257; P < 0.0001) for homophobia, while neurotic defense mechanisms (ß = -0.123; P = 0.02) and depressive symptoms (ß = -0.152; P = 0.04) have an opposite role. Moreover, categorical constructs of the RQ revealed a significant difference between secure and fearful attachments styles in levels of homophobia (secure = 22.09 ± 17.22 vs. fearful = 31.07 ± 25.09; P < 0.05). Finally, a gender difference to HS scores and a significant influence of male sex was found (ß = 0.213; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the involvement of psychoticism and immature defense mechanisms in homophobic attitudes, while a contrasting role is played by neurotic defense mechanisms and depressive symptoms. Moreover, secure attachment is an indicator of low levels of homophobia compared with the subjects demonstrating a fearful style of attachment. Hence, in the assessment of homophobia and in the relevant programs of prevention, it is necessary to consider the psychologic aspects described earlier.

Health-related characteristics and unmet needs of men with erectile dysfunction: a survey in five European countries.

INTRODUCTION: Data suggest that ED is still an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. In addition, it seems that men with ED are unsatisfied about their relationship with their physician and with the available drugs. AIM: The study aims to identify health-related characteristics and unmet needs of patients suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) in big 5 European Union (EU) nations (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK). METHODS: Data were collected from the 2011 5EU National Health and Wellness-Survey on a population of 28,511 adult men (mean age: 47.18; SD 16.07) and was focused on men (5,184) who self-reported ED in the past 6 months. In addition, the quality of life (QoL) and work productivity/activity were explored. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health-related QoL (HRQoL) and work productivity were measured with SF-12v2 and WPAI validated psychometric tools. RESULTS: One in every 20 young men (age 18-39) across 5EU experienced ED in the past 6 months. About half of men (2,702/5,184; [52%]) with ED across all ages did not discuss their condition with their physician. Interestingly, among those men who did discuss their condition with their physician, 68% (1,668/2,465) do not currently use medication. These findings were more evident in the age group of 18-39 years. Only 48% (2,465/5,184) had a closer relationship with their physician, suggesting that this quality of relationship may be unsatisfactory. Compared with controls, ED patients have a significantly higher intrapsychic and relational psychopathological comorbid burden and relevant decreasing in HRQoL, with a significantly higher impairment on work productivity/activity. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that there is a need for a new therapeutic paradigm in ED treatment which images the achievement of a new alliance between physician and patient. Hence, alternative drug delivery strategies may reduce the psychological and social impact of this disease.

Gender identity rather than sexual orientation impacts on facial preferences.

INTRODUCTION: Differences in facial preferences between heterosexual men and women are well documented. It is still a matter of debate, however, how variations in sexual identity/sexual orientation may modify the facial preferences. AIM: This study aims to investigate the facial preferences of male-to-female (MtF) individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) and the influence of short-term/long-term relationships on facial preference, in comparison with healthy subjects. METHODS: Eighteen untreated MtF subjects, 30 heterosexual males, 64 heterosexual females, and 42 homosexual males from university students/staff, at gay events, and in Gender Clinics were shown a composite male or female face. The sexual dimorphism of these pictures was stressed or reduced in a continuous fashion through an open-source morphing program with a sequence of 21 pictures of the same face warped from a feminized to a masculinized shape. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An open-source morphing program (gtkmorph) based on the X-Morph algorithm. RESULTS: MtF GD subjects and heterosexual females showed the same pattern of preferences: a clear preference for less dimorphic (more feminized) faces for both short- and long-term relationships. Conversely, both heterosexual and homosexual men selected significantly much more dimorphic faces, showing a preference for hyperfeminized and hypermasculinized faces, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the facial preferences of MtF GD individuals mirror those of the sex congruent with their gender identity. Conversely, heterosexual males trace the facial preferences of homosexual men, indicating that changes in sexual orientation do not substantially affect preference for the most attractive faces.

Role of sexuality in women with chronic pain: Results from an Italian cross-sectional study on chronic headache, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia.

Background/objectives: To compare sexual functioning, genital pain, and satisfaction among women diagnosed with various Chronic pain (CP) conditions. Additionally, it seeks to explore the role of sexual factors in predicting levels of central sensitization (indicative of CP-related mental and physical distress), physical, and mental quality of life (QoL) for each condition individually. Methods: From April 2023 to January 2024, 1006 women categorized into five groups (Chronic Headache - CH; Fibromyalgia - FM, Vulvodynia - VU, Comorbidity group - CO, and Healthy Controls - HC) completed an online protocol. Results: All groups reported sexual impairment: VU group exhibited the highest genital pain prevalence (97.93 %), followed by CO (74.29 %) and FM (55.91 %). ANCOVAs indicated lower sexual functioning scores for FM, VU, and CO compared to HC and CH. VU and CO reported lower satisfaction scores than other groups. Genital pain emerged as the primary predictor of central sensitization across all groups except controls. Regarding mental QoL, sexual satisfaction was significant for CH and CO, while genital pain and sexual satisfaction were significant for VU. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of integrating genito-pelvic pain assessment and addressing related sexual difficulties in CP diagnostics and care to enhance overall well-being and QoL.

Validity of self-reported male sexual function scales in a young Chinese population: a comparative study with clinician-assisted evaluation.

Psychometric scales, commonly used to gauge sexual function, can sometimes be influenced by response biases. In our research from June 2020 to April 2021, we examined the accuracy of self-reported sexual function scales. We invited patients from the Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China), who have male sexual dysfunction, to participate by filling out a self-reported version of a specific questionnaire. In addition, they went through a clinician-assisted version of this questionnaire, encompassing tools such as the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), the 6-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6), the Erection Hardness Scale (EHS), and the Masturbation Erection Index (MEI). Using the clinician-assisted version as a reference, we categorized patients and applied various statistical methods, such as the Chi-square test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), logistic regression, and the Bland-Altman plot, to gauge reliability. In our study with 322 participants, we found that while there were no notable discrepancies in error rates based on our categorization, certain scales showed significant differences in terms of overestimation and underestimation, with the exception of the PEDT. The positive diagnosis rate consistency between the self-reported and clinician-assisted versions was observed. High ICC values between the two versions across the scales were indicative of remarkable reliability. Our findings show that the self-reported versions of tools such as EHS, IIEF-6, MEI, and PEDT are credible and hold clinical reliability. However, employing a dual-diagnosis approach might be more prudent to circumvent potential misdiagnoses.

Investigating Unhealthy Behaviors Associated with SF-36 Domains in Women with Endometriosis-Findings from a Web-Based Survey Data Set.

Unhealthy behaviors may contribute to the development and the progression of chronic diseases with negative consequences on patients' quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between unhealthy behaviors (physical inactivity, tobacco consumption, and alcohol consumption) and health-related quality of life, measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, in women with endometriosis. To achieve this, data from a previous cross-sectional web survey among Italian adult women were analyzed. A total of 1045 responses were included in the analysis. Among the SF-36 subscales, the lowest score was recorded in the energy/fatigue domain: mean = 35.536 (Standard Deviation = 18.452). Smoking and physically inactive women had lower scores than non-smoking and physically active women, respectively, in each SF-36 domain. Women who drank more than one unit of alcohol a day, on average, reported lower scores than women with an alcohol intake <1 unit a day, for the following SF-36 domains: role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional problems, and emotional well-being. The multivariable analysis evidenced that employment, physical inactivity, and tobacco consumption were significant predictors for each SF-36 domain (p < 0.05). Physical inactivity and tobacco consumption had negative effects on the SF-36 subscales. Our results showed the need to monitor unhealthy behaviors to improve the overall well-being of women with endometriosis. Tailored strategies addressing smoking cessation, promoting physical activity, and moderating alcohol intake may aid in enhancing health-related quality of life in this vulnerable population.

Pornography and sexual function in the post-pandemic period: a narrative review from psychological, psychiatric, and sexological perspectives.

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had significant impacts on sexual functioning and behavior. Partnered sexual activity decreased overall, while solo sex activities such as masturbation and pornography consumption increased exponentially. Given the ongoing debate about the effects of pornography on sexual function, it was prudent to consider how the increase in porn consumption during the pandemic might have impacted sexual function in the post-pandemic period. Results indicated that despite the increased rates of use during lockdowns, there remains no evidence supporting the relationship between sexual dysfunction and porn use during and following the pandemic period. On the contrary, pornography consumption and solo sex activities offered an alternative to conventional sexual behavior during a highly stressful period and were found to have positive effects of relieving psychosocial stress otherwise induced by the pandemic. Specifically, those who maintained an active sexual life experienced less anxiety and depression, and greater relational health than those who were not sexually active. It is important to consider factors including frequency, context, and type of consumption when analyzing the impact of pornography on sexual function. While excessive use can have negative effects, moderate use can be a natural and healthy part of life.