1. ¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
2. ²Sinus Sociovision GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
3. ³Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany

Correspondence: Dr MM Berner, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Freiburg University Medical Center, Hauptstrasse 5, Freiburg, 70194, Germany. E-mail: michael.berner@uniklinik-freiburg.de

Received 1 December 2006; Revised 19 April 2007; Accepted 20 April 2007; Published online 23 August 2007.

Abstract

In total, 1122 men completed non-validated structured interviews on sexual attitudes and on erectile dysfunction treatment expectations and barriers. Dimensions of sexual attitudes and treatment expectations and barriers were extracted by factor analysis and subjects were grouped into types by cluster analysis. Five types emerged: the sensation seeker, the sensuous, the anxious, the confident and the abstinent. The majority of men agreed on the importance of sex for the partnership. For the majority of anxious, sensuous and sensation-seeking men, sex was important for self-esteem. Expecting quality of life, enjoyment, self-esteem and hard reliable erections from treatment with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, anxieties for side effects and loss of control, sexual abstinence and desire for an intensive sex life had the strongest impact on the likelihood of use. Men's sexual attitudes vary considerably and impact reactions to erection difficulties. A typology of five groups was developed, which will contribute to research on and understanding of men's sexual and treatment-seeking behaviors.