Extract

Objective

To assess the propensity toward the use of contraceptive methods (CMs) and their potential impact on a couple’s sexual life in a cohort of men seeking medical help for uro-andrological purposes.

Methods

Data from 125 heterosexual Caucasian-European men were analysed. Patients completed a 10-item questionnaire assessing their attitude towards the regular use of CMs during sexual intercourse and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Descriptive statistics were applied to describe the cohort.

Results

Complete data were available for all 125 men [mean (SD) age: 52.6 (13.7) yrs; range 25-77]. Of them, 77 (81.1%) had a stable sexual relationship (partners’ age 47.3 (12.3) years). Educational status was primary/secondary school and high school/university degree in 38 (30.4%) and 87 (69.6%) patients, respectively. Of 125 men, 38 (30.4%) reported that they typically used CMs during all sexual intercourses. Of these, 23 (60.5%) typically used condoms and 15 (39.5%) used oral contraceptives (mean number of sexual intercourses per week was 1.81 (0.72)). Overall, regular use of CMs was more frequently reported in men without a stable sexual relationship (p=0.007), with a younger partner (p=0.034), and a higher educational status (p<0.001). Of clinical relevance, IIEF-intercourse satisfaction scores were significantly lower (6.3 vs. 8.7; p=0.005) in regular users of CMs; conversely, no differences in the other IIEF domains were found between regular users and nonusers of CMs. Patients who used condoms had a even lower IIEF-IS domain score than those who used the pill (4.9 vs. 8.6; p=0.026).

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