(850) Profiles of Couples Consulting for Unconsummated Marriage

Abstract Introduction Unconsummated marriage (UCM) is defined as the inability of a married couple to achieve penile–vaginal penetration despite repeated attempts. This difficulty may occur from the first attempt or persist for several years. UCM, frequently encountered in sexology consultations-particularly in non-Western societies-represents a major medical and social issue, with a reported prevalence ranging between 2% and 24%. Objective This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profiles of couples consulting for UCM and to assess the impact of consultation delay on their characteristics and expectations. Methods This is a retrospective analytical study conducted in the outpatient sexology clinic between 2010 and 2020. All couples consulting for UCM were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, and sexual data were collected using a standardized form inspired by the Derogatis Sexual Function Inventory (DSFI). Results A total of 229 couples consulting for UCM were included. The mean age was 29.9 ± 5 years for women and 34 ± 5 years for men. The average age difference between partners was 5 years (range: 0–27 years). The majority of participants were of urban origin (69.8%) and had a secondary or university education (63%). The marriage was described as a love marriage in 50.7%, a traditional marriage in 35.3%, and an arranged marriage in 13.8% of cases. The mean delay before consultation was 12 ± 5 months, ranging from 7 days to 11 years. The main reasons for consultation were: the desire to consummate the marriage for social reasons (50.3%), sexual satisfaction (42.4%), desire for children (22.7%), marital conflicts (24%), and family pressure (9.6%). In 69.2% of cases, the partner presenting the sexual dysfunction initiated the consultation. A shorter delay before consultation was observed when: – the couple was sexually active at the time of consultation (p = 0.008), – the woman presented with vaginismus (p = 0.04), – the family was informed about the problem (p = 0.02), – the man exhibited performance anxiety (p = 0.01), – or when the main motivation was to consummate the marriage for social reasons (p = 0.005). A longer delay was observed when the main motivation was the desire to have children (p = 0.003) or when the woman had undergone hymenotomy before consultation (p = 0.027). Conclusions Unconsummated marriage remains a frequent and complex issue that requires an integrated, couple-centered approach tailored to their expectations and motivations. Management should be individualized based on the timing of the consultation and the couple’s underlying reasons for seeking care, to optimize therapeutic outcomes and promote relational fulfillment. Disclosure No