What impact does the lack of privacy have on sex?
Many factors affect sexual function, but one of the most important is the lack of privacy during sexual encounters ie. the couple being to share common sexual moments, without feeling that something may interrupt them.
Although recognized by experts as a particularly important factor, it has not been adequately studied. The role of privacy was studied in Italy on a sample 3736 men who had visited a clinic for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
These men were asked if in the last three months they had a sufficient sense of privacy during their sexual activity, and about 20% reported that they it was reduced. Lack of privateness appeared to have a significant correlation with the occurrence of erection and ejaculation problems.
Moreover, men who had a lack of privacy were more likely to report relationship problems and impaired mood.
What factors increase the lack of privacy?
According to this study, men who had children, but also those who said they do not live together with their partner, were the groups most likely to report lack of privacy.
This study suggests that when a man feels that he doesn’t have suitable conditions, i.e. time and place for sexual activity, this is likely to generate sexual problems.
However, it seems that tit can also go the other way arouns: The occurrence of sexual problems often leads men to fear sexual encounters, because they doubt that they will achieve the performance they would like, so they often start to gradually avoid sexual encounters and, therefore, also avoid the circumstances that are suitable for sexual activity.
They do this by, for example, encouraging their children to sleep late or avoiding to discuss about sex with their partner.
In any case, this study highlights the importance of privacy, a factor that is often underestimated by patients with sexual problems.
Boddi V, Fisher AD, Maseroli E et al. (2014) Lack of sexual privacy affects psychological and marital domains of male sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med 11: 431-438.
