Despite its prevalence, sexual dysfunction is often endured in silence. Population studies in both the United States and United Kingdom suggest that as many as 54% of women and 35% of men acknowledge sexual complaints and problems lasting for at least 1 month and often for many months and even years.^1,2 Nevertheless, only 11% of men and 30% of women seek treatment.^1,3 It is timely that the authors of one of these epidemiological studies have provided more details about the large scale sexual survey that was originally conducted in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2001 of men and women between the ages of 16–44 (this issue of STI, p 394).

Although prevalent, the high rates of reported sexual problems need to be understood both in population and …