Aziz Yasan

Post-stroke sexual functioning in first stroke patients

Background and purpose:  Although physical problems after stroke have been well studied, there is little information on one of the crucial aspects of the quality of life of those patients, namely sexual functioning and satisfaction. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of stroke on sexual functioning in a stable cohort of Turkish stroke patients with mild or no disability and to assess the relationship between post‐stroke sexuality and a number of socio‐demographic, clinical and laboratory variables.

Double Standard for Traditional Value of Virginity and Premarital Sexuality in Turkey: A University Students Case

This study investigates the prevalence of myths regarding virginity and the hymen and their associations with sexuality prior to marriage. This study was conducted with 534 single, heterosexual male and female students from various faculties of Dicle University in Turkey. The findings demonstrated that the rates of masturbation (11.1%) and premarital sexual intercourse (4.3%) were much lower in women than in men (87.7% and 44.2% respectively) who were traditionally expected to maintain their virginity until marriage. A higher degree of commitment to religious faith was associated with a lower rate of masturbation and sexual contact experience. Also, the myth that the hymen symbolized virginity was slightly more prevalent among male students (74.2% vs. 72.1%). Female virginity was significantly more important among male students (76.7%) than females (11.1%), and male students more frequently (30.1% vs. 11.1%) stated that “the blood-stained bed sheet” should be displayed to the family on the day of marriage. Although some myths about virginity were frequently reported by females, less significance was attributed to virginity by females than by males. In conclusion, the traditional social structure that incites sexual double standards still prevails over the sexual attitudes and behaviors of university students in Turkey.

Marital Satisfaction, Sexual Problems, and the Possible Difficulties on Sex Therapy in Traditional Islamic Culture

We plan to investigate the level of marital satisfaction, the prevalence of sexual problems, and related issues in couples who were referred to an outpatient clinic of psychiatry for their sexual problems. All were living according to traditional Islamic culture. Twenty-five (80.64%) of the couples attended the clinic for not being able to have any sexual intercourse. Overall, 25.8% of the women, and 3.2% of the men had been married without their consent; those marriages were arranged and mediated by matchmakers. Vaginismus (58.06%) was the most common diagnosis among women and premature ejaculation (38.70%) among men. We found that marital satisfaction was affected by the mode of marriage.

Trauma type, gender, and risk of PTSD in a region within an area of conflict

The relation between trauma type, gender, and risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still remains unclear. The authors investigated the association among gender and trauma type and risk of PTSD among people living within an area of conflict. Traumatic experiences and PTSD symptoms among 708 participants were assessed. It was determined that more men (53%) were exposed to traumatic events than women (44%). They also found no difference in PTSD prevalence according to gender. However, the authors found that there was a different risk of PTSD among men and women who experienced similar traumatic events: the risk of PTSD for those who experienced military conflict was higher among men than it was among women.

Predictor factors associated with premarital sexual behaviors among university students in an Islamic culture.

ABSTRACT We examined premarital sexual behaviors among Turkish university students and the predictor factors for these behaviors. The study included 638 eligible students (256 women and 382 men). Masturbation was reported by 53.3% of the participants, and sexual intercourse experience was reported by 26.3%. Men, heterosexual orientation, and non-religious/liberal religiosity were predictor factors for masturbation and premarital sexual intercourse/foreplay experience. Men having more sexual experiences than women may indicate gender double standards, while heterosexual orientation as a predictor of sexual behaviors could relate to homophobia, still prominent in Turkey. These findings highlight Islams restrictive attitude towards sexuality despite continued Western influences.

Socio-Cultural Features and Sex Profile of the Individuals with Serious Suicide Attempts in Southeastern Turkey: A One-Year Survey

Our objective was to elucidate potential causes of higher rates of suicide attempts in females compared to males in southeastern Turkey through a 1-year survey. Gender-related differences observed in 96 subjects who attempted suicide by poisoning for the first time were as follows: in comparison to male, females were predominantly within the age interval of 15-24 years, experienced more stressful events in the previous week before suicide attempt, had lower education level, and had a lower rate of employment. One year after the suicide attempt, unfavorable attitude of family, lack of support, persisting unfavorable lifestyle comparable with that prior to the first attempt, and higher rates of domestic violence were more pronounced in females compared to males. These findings might be contributing factors to the higher suicide attempt rates observed in females compared to the males.

Unwanted sexual intercourse in a group of married women: prevalence, reasons and short term consequences -

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of unwanted sexual intercourse, its reasons, some short term consequences and related sexual function disorder in a group of married women. Methods: Sixty three married women who have been working as research fellow in a university have participated in the study. A study form including sociodemographic features and information relevant to unwanted sexual experiences of cases were completed by participants. Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale were given to collect information about sexual life and experiences of subjects. Results: More than half of the cases revealed that they had unwanted sexual inter-course during their lifetime. The most common reasons for unwanted sexual intercourse were using sex as a way of showing their love and satisfying a need to be sensual. According to Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, women those have unwanted sexual intercourse had significantly lower sexual desire, arousal, orgasm and sexual satisfac-tion subscale as compared to women those did not have unwanted sexual intercourse. Discussion: This study has shown that all unwanted sexual intercourse may not be considered as traumatic and for some women it might be considered as positive sexual experience. However, in some cases it may lead to negative psychological conse-quences and sexual dysfunction. Thus, further studies are warranted to determine the factors leading an unwanted sexual course to be considered as a positive or negative experience. In psychiatric practice, evaluating unwanted sexual course might help psychiatrists to find out a precipitating factor for a sexual dysfunction and some psychiatric syndromes.

Inappropriate treatment of a woman with vaginismus and social and psychiatric consequences in a traditional culture

Vaginismus is the most commonly diagnosed sexual dysfunction among Turkish women seeking sex therapy. Herein, we report a woman with vaginismus who was referred to our clinic after unsuccessful medical interventions for vaginismus. Additionally, she was physically and emotionally abused by her husband and parents in-law. Based on DSM-IV, she was diagnosed with vaginismus, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. Sex therapy for this patient lasted for nine weeks, after that time she was able to penetrate her vagina with two of her fingers. In traditional culture, women with vaginismus are susceptible to social pressures, traumatic experiences and loss of social status as a result of sexual dysfunction.

T03-P-08 Marital satisfaction, sexual problems, and the possible difficulties on sex therapy in traditional Islamic culture

Objective In the western cultures, marriage is usually accomplished based on love and after a period of acquaintance, while in the traditional Islamic culture it is arranged by the families and some women are forced to marry without consent. We planned to investigate the level of marital satisfaction, the prevalence of sexual problems and related issues in couples. Design and method We planned to investigate all the patients with sexual problems attending Dicle University psychiatry outpatient clinic between February-July 2007. All were living according to traditional Islamic culture. During study period, 31 heterosexual couples were included in our study, Following questionnaires were administered to the patients: Sexual dysfunction was assessed according to DSMIV criteria, Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (MMQ). Results Twenty-five (80.64%) of the couples attended the clinic for not being able to have any sexual intercourse at all. Overall, 25.8% of the women, and 3.2% of the men had been married without their consent, those marriages were arranged and mediated by match-makers. Vaginismus (58.06%) was the most common diagnosis among women and premature ejaculation (38.70%) among men. We found that marital satisfaction was affected by the mode of marriage. Conclusions We found that, present culture differs from Western cultures in terms of marriage modes and traditions like the obligation to show bloody sheet after the first night of marriage. In our cases, the most common sexual problem was vaginismus among women and premature ejaculation among men. There was a relation between marital satisfaction and mode of marriage.

T03-P-07 Premarital sexual attitudes and experiences in traditional Islamic culture – a university students case

Objective Although premarital sex is common in many western societies, it is quite limited particularly in eastern societies living within Islamic culture. Our first objective is to investigate on premarital sexual attitudes and behaviors in settled Islamic culture, and our second objective is to determine the effects of dysfunctional sexual beliefs in same culture on sexual attitudes and behaviors. Design and method We planned to include 160 students from first and final classes in our study. On February 15, 2007. We obtained the informed consent from these students after explaining, of 129 students included in the study. The subjects were asked to fill 3 different data forms: Sociodemographic data form, premarital sex and masturbation data form, Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire (SDBQ). Results We found that premarital masturbation rates among women and men were 26.47% and 83.60% respectively. We also found that the rates of having coitus with another person were 5.88% in women, and 39.92% in men. A relationship was determined between premarital sex and level of religiosity, gender and mean scores of SDBQ. In participants with premarital sex, a difference between those with guilt-feeling and no-guilt-feeling was found depending on religiosity level and the mean scores of SDBQ. Conclusions We concluded that premarital sexual attitudes and behaviors were less liberal among our study subjects compared to those of western societies, and that there was gender - based double standard prevailing. We found also a relationship between feeling of guilt presently after sexual activity and religiosity, mean scores of SDBQ.