Mp47-18 the Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Female Sexual Behavior: Analysis of the General Social Survey

You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction: Medical, Hormonal & Non-surgical Therapy I (MP47)1 May 2024MP47-18 THE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON FEMALE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR: ANALYSIS OF THE GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEY Daniel R. Greenberg, Sarah Brink, David A. Velasquez, Abigail Norling-Ruggles, Kyara M. Marquez, Senthooran Kalidoss, Aaron Gurayah, Omer Raheem, and Ranjith Ramasamy Daniel R. GreenbergDaniel R. Greenberg , Sarah BrinkSarah Brink , David A. VelasquezDavid A. Velasquez , Abigail Norling-RugglesAbigail Norling-Ruggles , Kyara M. MarquezKyara M. Marquez , Senthooran KalidossSenthooran Kalidoss , Aaron GurayahAaron Gurayah , Omer RaheemOmer Raheem , and Ranjith RamasamyRanjith Ramasamy View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001008880.11564.10.18AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed societal behaviors. However, the pandemic's effect on female sexual behavior is not well understood. We aimed to compare female sexual behavior, including frequency of sexual encounters, number of sexual partners, and overall sexual habits pre- and post-COVID using a national survey database representative of the U.S. population. METHODS: The General Social Survey (GSS), a national cross-sectional survey database, was queried for years 2016 and 2018 (pre-COVID) and years 2021 and 2022 (post-COVID). Survey responses related to sexual behavior and sexual habits were collected. Respondents were stratified by age, race, relationship status, and sexual orientation. Pre- and post-COVID responses were compared using student's t test for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Post-stratification weighting was applied for statistical analyses to allow sample estimates to reflect the U.S. population. RESULTS: Among 6,988 survey participants, there were 2,887 (41.3%) pre-COVID respondents, and 4,101 (58.7%) post-COVID respondents. There was a significant decrease in overall frequency of sexual encounters following COVID-19 (Table 1, p=0.003). Fewer survey participants in the post-COVID cohort had sex at least once a week (28.1% vs 34.8%, p<0.001), or at least once a month (54.3% vs 61.5%, p<0.001) compared to the pre-COVID cohort. However, sub-group analysis of married women did not show a difference in frequency of sexual encounters between these two groups. Overall, the percentage of post-COVID participants who had ≥1 sexual partner in the last year significantly decreased compared to the pre-COVID cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a significant decrease in the frequency of sexual encounters and number of sexual partners among women in the U.S. following the Covid-19 pandemic. Stable relationships, illustrated by the unchanged frequency of sexual encounters among married women, may mitigate pandemic-related stressors. Understanding trends in female sexual behavior is crucial for urologic practice, and sexual medicine professionals must be prepared to care for women whose sexual frequency, habits, and partners may be adversely affected by the pandemic. Source of Funding: NIDDK grants R01 DK130991, UE5 DK137308, and Clinician Scientist Development Grant from American Cancer Society to RR © 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 211Issue 5SMay 2024Page: e770 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.Metrics Author Information Daniel R. Greenberg More articles by this author Sarah Brink More articles by this author David A. Velasquez More articles by this author Abigail Norling-Ruggles More articles by this author Kyara M. Marquez More articles by this author Senthooran Kalidoss More articles by this author Aaron Gurayah More articles by this author Omer Raheem More articles by this author Ranjith Ramasamy More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...