The Female Experience of Men’s Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (FEMALES) study: concordance among couple members’ perceptions and attitudes towards erectile dysfunction

Jay, L⁽¹⁾; Fisher, W⁽²⁾; Eardley, I⁽³⁾; McCabe, M⁽⁴⁾; Sand, M⁽⁵⁾

⁽¹⁾Rockyview General Hospital, Alberta, Canada ⁽²⁾University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada ⁽³⁾Pyra Department of Urology, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK ⁽⁴⁾Department of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia ⁽⁵⁾Bayer Schering Pharma, Wuppertal, Germany

Introduction/Objective: Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects both patients and their partners. The Female Experience of Men’s Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (FEMALES) study assessed levels of concordance among couple members regarding their perceptions and attitudes towards ED.
Materials and Methods: Men with ED from the Men’s Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study were asked if they agreed to their partner being interviewed. Female partners of men providing consent completed a modified version of the MALES questionnaire. For each participating couple (n=293), responses to the MALES and FEMALES questionnaires were compared. Participants were asked to identify the functional impairments characterising the man’s ED (e.g. ‘I/He get(s) no erection at all’; ‘I/He get(s) satisfactory erections, but they don’t last long enough’). To assess concordance relating to attitudes, beliefs and experiences of ED, participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with 21 statements regarding: the importance of the relationship; causes of ED; effects of ED on the relationship; communication about ED; attitudes to sexual experiences/problems; attitudes to medication; finding a solution to ED.
Results: Significant associations were reported between couple members’ perceptions of the functional impairments characterising the man’s ED (p<0.0001); in 66% of couples, male and female partners expressed identical perceptions. Concordance between couple members’ attitudes, beliefs and experiences of ED was also high (>50% for 18/21 statements). There was a significant association between couple responses for 20/21 statements (p<0.05). Instances of discordance between couple members were also identified.
Conclusions: Overall, concordance was high between couple members’ perceptions of ED, and their attitudes, beliefs and experiences of this condition. Areas of potential discordance were identified that may contribute to treatment avoidance or couple conflict.