Momentary Desire for Sexual Intercourse and Momentary Emotional Intimacy Associated with Perceived Relationship Quality and Physical Intimacy in Heterosexual Emerging Adult Couples

Sexual desire and emotional intimacy are central to relationships, yet little is known about how these feelings vary within and between partners or relate to dyad functioning. We explored magnitude and stability of momentary sexual desire and emotional intimacy in relation to quality and functioning of heterosexual relationships. 

After reporting perceived relationship quality and physical intimacy enjoyment, members of 18 emerging adult heterosexual couples reported momentary partner-specific sexual desire and emotional intimacy several times a day for two weeks (2,224 reports). Mean and mean squared successive difference (MSSD) characterized magnitude and stability, respectively, of the momentary states. 

Regression models of relationship outcomes examined influence of the male versus female partner having greater or more stable desire and intimacy. Sexual desire and emotional intimacy magnitude and stability were associated with relationship quality and physical intimacy enjoyment differently for men versus women. Gender-specific differences between partners also predicted relationship outcomes. Men particularly perceived higher relationship quality and enjoyed physical intimacy more when they had higher and more stable sexual desire and their female partners had more stable emotional intimacy. 

Partner differences in momentary sexual desire and emotional intimacy may contribute to understanding quality and functioning of heterosexual relationships.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/kBRKr7

By:  Shrier LA1,2, Blood EA2,3,4.

• 1a Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine , Boston Children's Hospital.
• 2b Department of Pediatrics , Harvard Medical School.
• 3c Clinical Research Center , Boston Children's Hospital.
• 4d Department of Community and Family Medicine , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. 

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Factors Associated with Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse among Postnatal Women in Uganda

Background

Despite being a key component to be addressed during postnatal period, sexuality has long been a subject of secrecy and taboo in Africa. Resumption of sexual intercourse after giving birth has been shown to reduce extramarital affairs and consequently reduce risk of sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS. Consequences of early resumption of sexual intercourse include unwanted pregnancy, genital trauma and puerperal infection. The objective of the study was to assess prevalence and factors associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse among postnatal mothers attending postnatal clinic at a National referral Hospital in Uganda.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study that employed an interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted among 374 women who delivered six months prior to conducting the study. The independent variables included socio-demographic characteristics of the participant, socio-demographic characteristics of the spouse, perceived cultural norms, medical history, mode of delivery, and postpartum complications. The dependent variable was timing of resumption of sexual intercourse after childbirth (before or after six weeks postpartum). Data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0.

Results

The study showed that 105 participants (21.6 %) had resumed sexual intercourse before 6 weeks after childbirth. The participants’ education level, occupation, and parity; education level of the spouse, age of baby and use of family planning were the factors associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse after child birth (before six weeks postpartum) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Many women resumed sexual intercourse after six weeks. Women with high income, low parity, who ever-used contraception or had a spouse with high education level were more likely to have early resumption of sexual intercourse.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/QyG4vY

By:  Alice C. Alum¹, Irene B. Kizza², Charles P. Osingada¹, Godfrey Katende² and Dan K. Kaye^3*

¹Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

²Adult Health and Critical Care Department, College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University, Alkhod, Muscat, PC 123, Oman

³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

 

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Loss of Innate Host Defense Following Unprotected Vaginal Sex

Multiple defense mechanisms protect the female genital tract from pathogens, but the impact of sexual intercourse on defense is unknown.

As part of a hypothesis-generating study, 17 women provided cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) at baseline (abstinent x 72 hours), and 2-6 hours and 10-14 hours after vaginal intercourse with and without a male condom (5 visits total). Vaginal pH, concentrations of immune molecules, and antimicrobial activity at post-coital visits were compared to baseline.

Vaginal pH and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 increased, but human beta-defensin (HBD)-2, HBD-3, and interleukin (IL)-8 decreased after unprotected sex. CVL E. coli inhibitory activity decreased significantly from baseline at the 2-6 hour post-unprotected sex visit (median 63% [range -34-99] vs. 5% [-51-100]; p=0.02) and remained low at the 10-14 hour visit (6% [-19-92]; p=0.02). Pooled human seminal plasma enhanced E. coli growth in vitro in a dose dependent manner and, when added to CVL samples with high anti-E. coli activity, reversed the inhibition.

Unprotected vaginal sex results in a reduction in endogenous anti-E. coli activity, which may reflect, in part, enhancement of bacterial growth by seminal plasma. This finding may contribute to the risk of E. coli vaginal colonization following sexual intercourse.

Full PDF article at: http://goo.gl/XM4JJs

By: Nakra NA1, Madan RP1, Buckley N1, Huber AM1, Freiermuth JL1, Espinoza L2, Walsh J2, Parikh UM3, Penrose KJ3, Keller MJ2, Herold BC1

• 1Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
• 2Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
• 3Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.  

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Fracture of the Penis in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Penile fracture is a surgical emergency which often frightens the patient and partner. Varying incident rates, precipitating mechanisms and outcomes of treatment have been reported from different parts of the world.

To determine clinical presentation, aetiological factors and outcome of treatment of penile fracture in Port Harcourt, Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

This was a retrospective study of all patients who presented with penile fracture to our institution from 2007 and 2015. Data on age of patient, events leading to the injury, mode and time of presentation, mode and outcome and complications of treatment were collected and analysed with SPSS 20.0 software

Twenty one patients with a median age of 34.0 years (21-45) were treated within the study period. Nine patients (42.9%) were married. Overenthusiastic/ vigorous sex-related events were responsible for penile fracture in 17 patients (81.0%). Seven injuries were self inflicted while in 14 patients (66.7%), partners were involved. All the patients presented with pain, swelling, sudden detumescence and deviation of the penis. The right side was affected in 61.9% of the cases. The penile mid-shaft was the site of injury in 57.1% of cases. Six patients (28.6%) had associated urethral injuries. Eighteen patients (85.7%) had immediate surgery, 2 patients (9.5%) refused surgery and were treated conservatively. One patient who presented late was also managed conservatively. All but one patient had satisfactory penile erections with no significant complications.

Overenthusiastic and vigorous sexual activities were the most common causes of penile fracture in this study. A third of the patients had associated urethral injuries. Early surgical repair led to satisfactory outcome.

Below:  Causes of penile fracture

Below:  Site of penile fracture

Below:  Penile fracture with bleeding from the urethral meatus

Full article at: http://goo.gl/WnNw6m

By: ON EKEKE and N EKE

Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakahia, Port Harcourt

  

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The Psychosexual Profile of Sexual Assistants: An Internet-Based Explorative Study

Sexual assistance may have some aspects that resemble prostitution and others that might lead one to think of sexual assistants as similar to a group of subjects whose sexual object is disability (devotees). In this study, we investigate whether a rigorous selection and training process on the part of specialised organisations may reduce the risk of training subjects with an atypical sexual interest and behaviours resembling prostitution.

The study population consisted of 152 subjects defining themselves as sexual assistants. Subjects were initially contacted on websites specifically dedicated to sexual assistants and prostitutes. One hundred and twenty subjects were selected, by propensity score analysis, and studied by means of a modified version of a semi-structured questionnaire previously developed to investigate a population of subjects attracted by disability.

The study group was composed of 80 trained and 40 untrained sexual assistants, with mean ages of 41.5 (SD +/-12.58) and 44.5 (SD +/-11.62), respectively. A significant number of untrained subjects affirmed that their motivation in carrying out sexual assistance was of a remunerative nature, while this number was lower among the trained assistants (p = 0.001). Nearly all untrained subjects claimed to do one or more of the following activities during sexual assistance: sexual intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation. Among the trained subjects, however, only 47.5% claimed to do one or more of these activities, which means that there is a significant gap between trained and untrained assistants (p<0.0001). The existence of an atypical sexual interest was more evident between untrained rather than between trained subjects (p<0.0001).

Sexual assistance represents a way through which people affected by disabilities may attain the right to explore their sexuality in a safe setting. This can be guaranteed only if sexual assistants are trained and carefully selected by specialised organisations.

Table 2

The table shows the questions investigating characteristics suggestive of prostitution.

ITEMS	TRAINED SUBJECTS (N = 80)	UNTRAINED SUBJECTS (N = 40)	P value
Motivations to work as sexual assistant* (%; N)
For money	61.2%; (49/80)	95%; (38/40)	0.0001
To turn my sexual interest into a job	36.2%; (29/80)	27.5%; (11/40)	0.451
To take care of people affected by disabilities	33.7%; (27/80)	25%; (10/40)	0.442
I don’t know	3.7%; (3/80)	5%; (2/40)	0.872
Is your work as a sexual assistant always remunerated by moneyor other kinds of gifts? (%; N)
Yes	53.7%; (43/80)	87.5%; (35/40)	<0.0001
No	46.2%; (37/80)	12.5%; (5/40)	<0.0001
I’d rather not say	0%; (0/80)	0%; (0/40)	1
What kind of activities do you carry out during sexualassistance? (%; N)
Sexual activities resembling those of prostitution (oral sex, masturbation,sexual intercourse)	47.5%; (38/80)	95%; (38/40)	<0.0001

*Note that some subjects chose more than one option. Hence, the total number of responses does not equal 100% of the sample.

Full article at: http://goo.gl/iqHrnk

By:  Limoncin E1, Galli D1, Ciocca G1, Gravina GL1, Carosa E1, Mollaioli D1, Lenzi A2, Jannini EA3.

• 1Department of Clinical and Applied Sciences and Biotechnologies, School of Sexology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
• 2Department of Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• 3Department of Clinical and Applied Sciences and Biotechnologies, School of Sexology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

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Exploring Genitoanal Injury & HIV Risk among Women: Menstrual Phase, Hormonal Birth Control & Injury Frequency & Prevalence

Genital, anal and oral injuries sustained from sexual intercourse may explain HIV transmission among women. We determined the variability in genitoanal injury frequency and prevalence in women following consensual sexual intercourse, exploring the role of menstrual phase and hormonal birth control.

We used a longitudinal, observational design with a convenience sample of 393 women aged 21 and older. Participants had a baseline interview with gynecologic examination, followed by consensual sexual intercourse with a male partner and a second gynecologic examination. We analyzed injury prevalence with logistic regression and injury frequency with negative binomial regression among women who were: a) menstrual, not using hormonal birth control, b) menstrual, using hormonal birth control, or c) menopausal. We also compared injury among menstrual women in the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases.

Women using hormonal birth control had 38% more external genitalia injuries and more than twice the anal injuries as the non-hormonal birth control menstruating group. Menopausal women had more than three times the anal injuries than those in the non-hormonal menstrual group. Among menstrual women, those in the follicular phase had a greater prevalence and frequency of external genitalia injuries than those in other phases.

Increased rates of post-coital genitoanal injuries are noted among women using hormonal birth control and/or in the follicular phase of menstruation. Biological factors that influence women's risk for HIV warrant further investigation.

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By: Brawner BM1, Sommers MS, Moore K, Aka-James R, Zink T, Brown KM, Fargo JD.

• 1University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Center for Health Equity Research and Center for Global Women's Health, 418 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104; 2University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Jordan Medical Education Center, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104; 3Brown University School of Public Health, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903; 4Wright State University Department of Family Medicine, 725 University Boulevard, Dayton, OH 45435; 5Utah State University Department of Psychology, 2800 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322.