Objectives: The purpose of this study was to study reduced sexual interest in Norwegian heterosexual couples, and to identify factors associated with loss of sexual interest in men and women. Methods: The study comprise a representative sample of 399 couples (798 individuals) aged 20 to 67 years. Data collection was carried out by self-administered postal questionnaires. Results: The majority of the couples (59%) did not report distressing problems related to loss of sexual interest. In 26% of the couples the wife had distressing loss of sexual interest, in 8% of the couples the man had the lust problem, and in 8% of the couples both spouses experienced distressing problems. Most of the men and women who had sexual interest problems believed that their loss of sexual interest was related to stress, disease, or “other” factors. Reduced capacity for sexual arousal was the best predictor of loss of interest in both genders. Among women, negative work to home interference was related to loss of sexual interest. Conclusions: It seems reduced sexual interest and desire represent a new are of public health concern in Norway.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: The Norwegian Newspaper Dagbladet
Sydney, Australia, April 2007
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