Table 5  Subjective reasons for sexual problems.

Category	Subcategory	n (%)	Representative quote
		PCOS n = 24*
*  The n refers to the number of participants who gave an answer to the open question at all. The number serves as the base rate for the percentages given. Each participant could touch on multiple themes in the answer given.
Psychological difficulties	Low self-esteem	2 (8.3)	“Low self-confidence”
	Feeling of being unattractive	2 (8.3)	“I am ashamed of the body hair, razor burn”
	Fear of rejection	1 (4.2)	“Fear that he could find out about the PCOS, especially the body hair”, ”fear of his lack of understanding”
	General emotional problems	3 (12.5)	“Psychological difficulties”
Sexual experience	Fear not to get pregnant	2 (8.3)	“I have the feeling that I wonʼt get pregnant anyway, I think itʼs standing in the way”
	Insufficient lubrication	2 (8.3)	“Maybe Iʼm not wet enough”
Somatic conditions	Hormones (e.g. birth control pill, postpartal)	5 (20.8)	“I think itʼs due to the anti-baby pill. But I canʼt say for sure”
	PCOS	1 (4.2)	“Because of the PCO Syndrome”
	General health problems	1 (4.2)	“Health issues”
Partnership	Partner and relationship characteristics	6 (25.0)	“My partner doesnʼt excite me any more”
	Stress, not enough time with partner	3 (12.5)	“Different working hours between me and my partner, stress”
Other	Have always had sexual dysfunction(s)	2 (8.3)	“I have always had problems, donʼt know it any other way.”
	Donʼt know	3 (12.5)	“?”