Table 1.
Characteristics of participants and their experiences of help-seeking
| Participant> | Gender | Age | Relationship status | Experience of sexual difficulty and help-seeking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Male | 75a | Married (second) | Takes Erection-enhancing medicine (EEM), wife does not know. Help-seeking not discussed. |
| M2 | Male | 61 | Married (second) | Takes EEM, sought help for ED but angina puts him off using EEM (fear of heart attack), tried sex aides for wife and a plunger for ED |
| M3 | Male | 69 | Married (40 years) | Tried EEM but did not like the lack of spontaneity. Sought help from GP |
| M4 | Male | 62 | Married (41 years) | Tried EEM in the past, sought help twice and thinking of seeking help again |
| M5 | Male | 58 | Single (gay) | No sexual desire, help-seeking not discussed |
| M6 | Male | 63 | Separated | Wife saw doctor at his request about her lack of desire, came off medication and her desire returned |
| M7 | Male | 64 | Married (8 years) | EEM, help seeking not discussed |
| M8 | Male | 64 | Married | Has ED, considered seeking help but has not due to embarrassment |
| M9 | Male | 62 | Widowed (previously married 30 years) | Tried EEM but does not need it |
| M10 | Male | 70 | Single | EEM offered at hospital, he accepted it but has not used it as he has no sexual desire |
| M11 | Male | 71 | Married (49 years) | ED, sought help but the doctor was unhelpful |
| W1 | Female | 71 | Married (long-term) | Not sexually active, no sexual desire, has not sought help |
| W2 | Female | 69 | Married (45 years) | Not sexually active, might seek help from nurse |
| W3 | Female | 67 | Separated (previously married 40 years) | Not sexually active |
| W4 | Female | 71 | Married (53 years) | No sexual desire but has sex for husbands pleasure to ‘stop him going elsewhere’ |
| W5 | Female | 69 | Married (third time) | Not sexually active, no sexual desire, husband has ED, have not sought help |
| W6 | Female | 59 | Cohabiting (long-term) | No sexual desire, she and partner do not miss sex |
| W7 | Female | 68 | Single | Not sexually active, not sought help as it is not an issue |
| W8 | Female | 74 | Married (50 years) | Sexual difficulties due to pain, has sought help in the past |
| W9 | Female | 64 | Married (46 years) | Husband will not have sex and will not seek help |
| W10 | Female | 65 | Married (33 years) | Has a long-term illness but no health practitioners have mentioned sex to her at all |
| W11 | Female | 59 | Widow (was married 27 years) | She received advice on sex after hysterectomy |
| W12 | Female | 59 | Married (43 years) | Husband has sought help for ED |
aThis participant turned 75 in between the survey and the interview.