Journal of Psychosexual Health

Previous studies showed the association of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) with various specific organic, psychiatric, and social factors separately, but rarely evaluated the extent of association of various disorders all together in cases of FSD.

This study was conducted to explore the comorbidities associated with FSD from physical, psychiatric, and social perspectives.

All female patients aged between 18 and 60 years reporting sexual problems to the psychiatry outpatient department were evaluated with Arizona sexual experiences scale for females. Their assessment included detailed medical and psychiatric history including the history of social contributing factors and medicine intake followed by physical and mental status examinations. Relevant biochemical investigations and hormonal assessments were done. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, linear regression analysis, and independent samples t tests.

Seventy-three females were diagnosed as cases of FSD according to the Arizona sexual experiences scale in one year. Among them, 1.37% had no comorbidity and the rest 98.63% had psychiatric comorbidities which were combined with physical comorbidities (mostly hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, and abnormal menstrual cycle) in 35.62% cases and social contributing factors (mostly husbands’ substance abuses and various family-related problems) in 32.88% cases. The duration of FSD predicted its severity.

The severity of FSD increased with duration. Thus, all cases of FSD should be assessed early in detail for physical, psychiatric, and social contributing factors to treat them holistically. Psychiatrists should play a key role in assessing, diagnosing, treating, and referring them to the appropriate treatment providers.

Smartphones and Internet connection help people to stay connected to virtual social media where predators may disguise and obtain intimate text, audio, photographs, and video from the victim. These are then used to extort money, sexual act, or any other favors.

We aimed to observe the characteristics of cyber sextortion in India in recent years (2019–2021).

This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in February 2022. The cases of cyber sextortion reported in newspapers between 2019 and 2021 were considered for qualitative analysis. The cases were thematically analyzed by 2 authors individually and a consensus was reached for the finalization of the finding.

Social media and dating applications are used to lure the victims to exchange sexual text, intimate photo, or video. The contents are saved and used as a tool to extort money, sexual acts, or other favors. The males are commonly extorted for money but females are extorted for money and sexual acts. The victim may be called for a sexual act in a place and a group of extortionists may appear in the scene. Exchange of text messages or audio calls are also recorded for extortion. Personal intimate contents obtained from remote access of device or access through a third person or morphing videos are also used for sextortion.

Social media engagement and a desire of exploring sexual relations with unknown persons expose the victims for sextortion. Storing and sharing intimate content should be avoided even when in trusted relations to minimize the risk.

Depression-associated sexual dysfunction (SD) is a pervasive and ignorant problem among the general population. The antidepressant used to treat depression may further alter the sexual response cycle in one way or another. This study aims to assess the prevalence of SD in females with major depressive disorders and the effects of antidepressant therapy after 4 weeks of follow-ups.

In a prospective observational survey, 94 women diagnosed with depression and on antidepressant therapy were purposively enrolled. Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are administered at baseline and 4 weeks of treatment to measure sexual function and depression changes. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics are applied to compute the results.

The mean age of the participants was 35.87 (±5.10) years. A total of 95.7% of participants showed SD at baseline assessment. There was a significant difference (31.87 vs 18.51, P < .001) in depression from baselines to 4 weeks after antidepressant therapy. Further, a significant negative correlation was reported between the MADRS scores and the scores of arousals (r = −0.396, P < .001), lubrication (r = −0.453, P < .001), orgasm (r = −0.342, P < .001), satisfaction (r = −0.407, P < .001), pain (r = −0.362, P < .001), and total domains of FSFI (r = −0.412, P < .001) after 4 weeks. Using cut-off scores of different areas, decreased sexual desire was reported in 97.9%, poor vaginal lubrication (100%), a problem with arousal (100%), reduced satisfaction (96.8%), reduced ability to achieve orgasm (100%), and pain during sexual intercourse in 100% of the participants.

There is a high prevalence of SD in women with depression. There is a marked improvement in depression at the end of 4 weeks. However, sexual function status remains unchanged and indicates the need for time to improve, suggesting different study designs.

Sexual risk behaviors are a public health concern. Although sexual risk behaviors are overrepresented among economically disadvantaged individuals, the mechanisms underlying the link from economic deprivation to sexual risk behaviors are not well understood.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether one of the earliest indicators of sexual risk, age of sexual initiation, mediates the link between young men’s perceptions of economic deprivation while growing up and sexual risk behaviors in adulthood.

Six-hundred twenty-four men provided data on background variables and risk. Path analyses were conducted in Mplus Version 8.

Perceptions of economic deprivation while growing up were related to younger age of sexual initiation, which in turn was related to higher risk for sex earlier in a relationship, condomless sex, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy, and condom use resistance.

These findings highlight important avenues for sexual health and health equity promotion.

Inadequate knowledge and awareness about transgenderism among doctors can lead to inadequate health-care services to transgender persons.

To assess the prevalent attitudes and beliefs toward transgender persons amongst medical undergraduates.

The present cross-sectional observational study included medical undergraduates of both gender in a tertiary care hospital. The students belonged to “early clinical phase” (yet to start clinical postings). The sociodemographic characteristics and academic and social exposure to transgender-related issues were recorded using a semi-structured proforma. Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale was used to assess the attitudes and beliefs toward transgender persons. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Of the 170 second-year medical students, majority reported negligible social exposure (71.3%) and academic exposure (81.6%) to transgenderism. Female students displayed better attitudes and beliefs toward transgender persons than their male counterparts.

Medical undergraduates require systematic academic exposure to transgender-related health issues. Gender differences exist among medical undergraduates in the beliefs and attitudes toward transgenderism.