Profile of adult patients attending a marriage and sex clinic in India.

BACKGROUND: Sexual disorders, which are usually influenced by multiple factors, are very prevalent across the globe but there are few studies which provide the pattern of help-seeking behavior in the Indian population.

AIMS: The study aims to present the pattern of sexual dysfunction in the patients attending a marriage and sex clinic from 1979 to 2005.

METHOD: Details are obtained from the records of the patients who attended the clinic. In accordance with the change in diagnostic classification, the data are presented: ICD-IX (for period 1979-1992) and ICD-X (for period 1993-2005).

RESULTS: Out of a total of 1,242 patients, 566 patients attended the clinic during 1979 to 1992, and 676 patients during 1993 to 2005. More than half of the clinic population during the period was aged 20-29 years. Premature ejaculation is the most common complaint and the most commonly diagnosed clinical entity, followed by male erectile problems and culturally induced sexual behaviors such as dhat syndrome.

CONCLUSION: Being more educated, married and from an urban background promotes help-seeking in tertiary care clinics but these findings may be due to selection bias. Sexual activity continues to be strongly influenced by culturally held beliefs. This influence is more troublesome for young and unmarried persons who have not changed over the period.