(104) THE IMPORTANCE OF ERECTILE FUNCTION IN FOSTERING INTIMACY IN HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE FEMALE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract Introduction Heterosexual men with erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly site fear of losing intimate partners due to lack of sexual performance and pursue invasive treatments to maintain erections. Female views on the significance of erectile function in healthy relationships remains under-explored, however. This study examines female perspectives on the importance of erections in relationships. Objective The objective of the study is to explore female perspectives on importance of erections in relationships and determine if female partners will pursue and/or maintain relationships with males with ED. Methods A survey-based study employed a virtual 35-item questionnaire adapted from the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire. Participants included heterosexual females aged 18 years and older. Results From May to November 2024, 217 survey responses were received, 56 of which had >50% incomplete entries leaving 161 for analysis. The average age of participants and their male partners was 33 (Standard Deviation, SD = 11) and 35 (SD = 10) years, respectively. A majority were either married or in long-term relationships (93/161). Only 89 of 161 female respondents considered penetrative intercourse important for their connection with their partners, citing narrative reasons such as partner satisfaction, stress relief, and viewing intercourse as an expression of love, attraction, intimacy, and vulnerability. Some females (47/161) felt that a lack of penetrative intercourse would negatively impact their relationships with narrative concerns around changes in relationship dynamics, male partner masculinity, his mental well-being, and female sexual gratification. Conversely, 33 of 161 females saw penetrative intercourse as non-essential, emphasizing other aspects of intimacy. Majority of females (79/161) indicated they would not end a relationship due to a partner’s erectile dysfunction (Fig. 1). When asked if they would start a relationship with a male with erectile dysfunction 56 of 161 of females said they were open to it, while 51 of 161 were not. Conclusions While penetrative intercourse holds significance as a means of intimacy for many heterosexual females, it is only one component of relationships and other aspects of intimacy are also highly valued. The outcomes of our study can help counsel men considering invasive treatments for erectile function and provide context on how women view erectile dysfunction and its significance on current and new relationships. Disclosure No.