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A study published in the latest article of The Journal of Sexual Medicine reveals that the prevalence and risk factors associated with Sexual Dysfunction (SD) vary with different age groups among the Iraq/Afghanistan veterans.

For the methodology of the study, researchers analyzed data of 4755 Iraq/Afghanistan veterans from Veteran Affairs administrative database in Houston.  Through the research, a linkage between the prevalence of SD in varying veteran age groups and factors such as mental health, socio-demography and other life style factors was drawn.

According to the study, the prevalence of SD was found to be 3.6 percent in those aged 18 to 40 years whereas for veterans above 40 years the prevalence rate was significantly higher at around 15.7 percent. The overall prevalence rate for SD was observed to be 5.5 percent.

For the veterans between 18 to 40 years, it was found that the prevalence of SD was associated with factors such as annual income, post traumatic stress disorder, marital status and hypertension. For the veterans aged above 40 years, being African-Americans was also one of the risk factors that could be linked to the prevalence rate.

"This could result in more accurate documentation of this health issue, a more holistic assessment of its impact on psychosocial issues (such as intimate-partner relationship), and more appropriate treatment and referral for indicated services, such as counseling, which in turn could increase the health and quality of life of our Iraq/Afghanistan veterans," said the authors of the study thus highlighting the significance of the study and its results.

The authors also commented that more focused assessment of sexual dysfunction in this particular demographic group through more research was needed.

The research study was headed by Dr.G.M Monawar Hosain and his colleagues at the VA HSR&D Center of Excellence in Houston.