Almost half of British women have ‘poor sexual health'

New research has claimed that almost half of women in Britain have poor sexual health, with women’s sexual problems deemed to be more varied than those experienced by men.

Writing in the BMC Public Health journal, researchers found that nearly a third of all women were found to experience difficulties rooted in a lack of interest in sex – a problem associated with distress and dissatisfaction with their sex life. This is almost three times the rate in men.

The researchers suggest that the figures emphasise both the higher prevalence and greater range of sexual health problems experienced by women, and stressed that lack of desire should not be overlooked by sexual health services. Meanwhile, ongoing cuts to sexual health services have left many in need of support with fewer options.

Dr Alison Parkes of the University of Glasgow, a co-author of the research, said: “We think [the wider range of problems in women] may boil down to women’s general lesser agency when it comes to negotiating more pleasurable as well as safer sex with their partners.”