Men in the Amazon city of Macapa, Brazil enjoy a high quality of sexual life, according to new research in Sexual Medicine.
The study provided a unique opportunity to investigate men’s sexual health in an area that is far from any other industrialized city. Located in the Brazilian state of Amapa, Macapa is not accessible by road. Its culture comprises indigenous and African aspects in an urban setting.
The researchers noted that 111,560 men between the ages of 18 and 69 lived in Macapa as of the 2010 Brazilian census. Three hundred eighty-five men with an average age of 36 participated in the study. All of the men had been living in Macapa for at least six months and had been sexually active during that time.
The men completed an assessment tool called the Male Sexual Quotient (MSQ).
The MSQ includes items on a variety of areas, including erections, ejaculation, orgasm, foreplay quality, sexual desire and confidence, partner satisfaction, and overall sexual satisfaction.
To administer the questionnaire, a male researcher visited each man in his home. During a private, face-to-face conversation, the researcher explained the reason for the study and the methodology involved. The MSQ is a written questionnaire, but men who were unable to read or write Portuguese completed it during an interview with the researcher.
The authors addressed concerns that this approach might lead men to tailor their answers to what they thought was desirable (especially on such a personal subject). They added that “[p]robably this approach improves men’s trust, which not only increases the chance of participation in the research but also increases the likelihood of veracity in their answers to the questionnaire.”
Throughout the age groups, the men were at least moderately satisfied with their sex lives. Men in the 35- to 39-year age range were highly satisfied, as were men between the ages of 55 and 59.
“Even older men (65-69 years) had an above average classification for their sexual satisfaction,” the study authors wrote, adding that greater intimacy, better communication with partners, and happy relationships may “counteract the increase in sexual dysfunctions, chronic diseases, and the decline of sexual desire in aging.”
Demographic aspects, such as education, ethnicity, and income, did not appear to affect satisfaction.
The researchers suggested several reasons for the men’s high sexual satisfaction rates.
First, the Amazonian diet of fish, fruits, nuts, and green vegetables is similar to the Mediterranean diet, which is believed to be beneficial to erectile function. Second, the geographic location is less polluted, which could be good for sexual health as well. Third, Macapa is located on the equator, where there is more solar radiation and, presumably, less vitamin D deficiency. Past studies have shown that vitamin D is important for good sexual function.
Approximately 37% of the men had premature ejaculation. Seven percent reported delayed ejaculation, and 12% had hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Delayed ejaculation had the most negative effect on the men’s sexual quality of life.
HSDD and delayed ejaculation rates were similar to those found in other areas of the world. However, premature ejaculation rates were “slightly higher” than those reported in other studies, which may be due to different definitions of the condition in medical literature. With that said, the current study did not account for negative feelings about premature ejaculation, and this might explain the higher rate.
The authors called for more research in the region.
Resources
Sexual Medicine
Teixeira, Thiago, MD, MSc, et al.
“Male Sexual Quality Of Life Is Maintained Satisfactorily Throughout Life In The Amazon Rainforest”
(Full-text. Published online: March 6, 2018)
http://www.smoa.jsexmed.org/article/S2050-1161(18)30017-5/fulltext