Help-Seeking Behaviour and Care Delays in Indian Patients Attending a Speciality Sexual Health Clinic: A Retrospective Cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), low sexual desire (LSD) and vaginismus substantially affect psychosocial well-being yet remain underreported in India due to stigma, limited provider training and fragmented care pathways.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine help-seeking patterns, delays in care and prior treatment attempts amongst patients presenting with sexual disorders.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

This was a retrospective observational study using anonymised records from a specialised sexual health clinic in India (January 2022-December 2024).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Records of patients with ED (n = 8980), PE (n = 9460), LSD (n = 1135) or vaginismus (n = 318) were analysed. Variables included symptom duration, previous consultations and self-medication.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

RESULTS

Most patients (72%) had not sought formal care before presentation, and 46% reported symptoms for more than 1 year. Self-medication was common in ED (12.7%) and PE (11.3%), particularly amongst individuals over 30 years, but uncommon in vaginismus (0.6%). Prior consultations were limited (ED: 24.5%; PE: 21.0%), and patients under 30 years were least likely to have accessed care. Older age correlated with greater self-medication (r = 0.32, P < 0.05), and longer symptom duration correlated with previous consultation attempts (r = 0.28, P < 0.05). Diagnostic category influenced delay, with ED and PE associated with the longest help-seeking intervals.

CONCLUSION

Substantial delays in help-seeking persist across sexual health diagnoses, especially amongst younger patients and those with ED or PE was observed. These findings highlight gaps in awareness, accessibility and confidence in seeking care. Strengthening clinician training, improving public education and expanding telehealth pathways may support earlier presentation and better outcomes.