Tous Actualités
Suivre
Abonner Pfizer AG

Pfizer AG

New survey reveals importance of sexual health to relationships and self-esteem but finds many refuse to speak to their doctors

Geneva (ots-prnewswire) -

Pfizer Inc Announces Launch of Survey in
Multiple Countries to Document the Impact of Sexual Health in the
Second Half of Life
Problems with sexual health are a legitimate health concern
according to nearly 70 percent of men and women age 40+ in a
five-country survey(A) funded by Pfizer Inc. Partner relationships
and self-esteem were ranked as most affected by sexual health
problems. Although 64 percent of respondents felt that sexual health
should be a primary discussion point with physicians, only 30 percent
with sexual health problems would have spoken with a physician about
the issue.
"While there has been significant improvement in the public's
understanding that poor sexual health is treatable, the preliminary
survey revealed many barriers remain to seeking and utilising
existing treatments to sexual health problems, including
acknowledgement of the condition and patient-physician discussion,"
said Professor Edward Laumann, Department of Sociology and the
College, University of Chicago.
In an effort to better understand and improve the ability of
patients and physicians to communicate on these sensitive issues,
Pfizer announced today that it is initiating The Pfizer Report on
Sexual Health in the Second Half of Life, a multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural baseline understanding of attitudes regarding the
importance of sexual health and well-being among men and women aged
40 and older.
"The Pfizer Report on the Sexual Health in the Second Half of Life
represents a new era in sexual health research," said Jack Watters,
M.D., Vice President, Medical - EUCAN, Pfizer. "Building on a strong
history of previous research, including the experience of more than
13 million men who have been treated for erectile dysfunction over
the past three years, The Pfizer Report will be the first
simultaneous, multi-country survey to assess attitudes and beliefs
about sexual health and their impact on relationships among mature
men and women. We hope the data captured in the survey will guide the
development of educational materials to facilitate open dialogue
about sexual health," Dr. Watters added.
More than 25 years ago, the World Health Organisation declared,
"There exist fundamental rights for the individual, including ...
freedom from organic disorders, disease and deficiencies that
interfere with sexual and reproductive function." However, despite
this statement, more than two decades later many challenges remain to
achieving the vision of sexual health espoused in this declaration.
Sexual health, particularly for men and women over the age of 40,
has only recently been widely discussed. Poor understanding regarding
the underlying causes of problems with sexual health, lack of viable
treatment options, and the stigma associated with discussing these
problems among this age group were an impediment to progress.
To help gain perspective of these important issues, Pfizer
conducted a preliminary survey of 1,000 respondents (100 men, 100
women per country, age 40+) in the UK, Germany, France, Spain and
Italy. The survey found that more than twice as many of those with
sexual health problems would have spoken to their partner (64
percent) as would have talked with their physicians about the problem
(30 percent). In fact, 27 percent have done nothing to improve their
sexual health problems. And only 6 percent of respondents with sexual
health problems have received prescription treatment.
"This preliminary research demonstrates that there appears to be
interesting cultural differences in understanding of sexual health
and priorities and barriers to treatment may vary from country to
country. Clearly, people across different countries feel sexual
health discussions need to be part of regular medical check-ups and
many are not proactively engaging in these conversations," said
Professor Laumann. "It is our hope that The Pfizer Report will help
physicians better understand sexual health by providing them with a
better understanding of their patients' needs and helping them
identify how to initiate these important discussions."
The Pfizer Report on Sexual Health in the Second Half of Life will
examine sexual attitudes and behaviour in more than 20,000 men and
women aged 40 and over living in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America
and North America. Specifically, The Pfizer Report will survey
individuals in more than ten countries including Australia, Brazil,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, UK and the USA.
This survey(B) will collect data to help explore the attitudes
towards sexual health and relationships. As The Pfizer Report will be
repeated at regular intervals, it will also provide an opportunity to
track trends in sexual health attitudes and behaviour over time.
A multidisciplinary advisory board of international experts will
develop the questionnaire and guide the research process. The initial
results of The Pfizer Report will be announced at 4th Congress of the
European Society for Sexual and Impotence Research (ESSIR) in Rome,
Italy, 30 September - 3 October 2001.
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading
prescription medicines, for humans and animals, and many of the
world's best known consumer products. Pfizer had global revenues of
US$29.6 billion in 2000.
Pfizer plans to make a research and development investment of
about $5 billion in 2001.
Notes to the Editor 
   (A) Survey fielded by McKessonHBOC Pharmaceutical Partners Group. 
   (B) Interview methods will vary based on the market.

Contact:

Geoff Cook of Pfizer Inc, phone: +1 212-733-5244

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html or
fax, +1 800 758 5804, ext. 688250

Company News On-Call: Pfizer's press releases are available at no
charge through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call fax service and on
PRN's Web Site. For a menu of Pfizer press releases or to retrieve a
specific release, call +1 800 758 5804, extension 688250, or
http://www.prnewswire.com on the Internet.

Photo: A free corporate logo to accompany this story is available
immediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto
receiver or electronic darkroom, PC or Macintosh, that can accept
overhead transmissions.
To retrieve a logo, please call +1 972-392-0888.

Internet: www.pfizer.com