Prevalence of sexual difficulties among female sex workers and clients attending a sexual health service

The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of sex workers and non-sex workers with sexual difficulties. Consenting female sex workers (93) and non-sex worker clients (178) attending the Melbourne Sexual Health self-answered an anonymous questionnaire about demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, prevalence of sexual difficulties with private partners, distress regarding one's sex life, and physical pleasure, emotional satisfaction with sex and overall satisfaction with life. The demographic characteristics, sexual behaviours, prevalence of painful sex (34% versus 42%), orgasmic difficulty (43% versus 40%), vaginal dryness (45% versus 36%) and performance anxiety (28% versus 37%), physical pleasure and emotional satisfaction with sex and overall life satisfaction among sex workers was similar to that of non-sex workers, respectively. Sex workers were more likely to experience sexual disinterest (odds ratio 1.9, (95% confidence interval 1.1, 3.2) and less likely to report being distressed about their sex life (P = 0.04). The prevalence of sexual difficulties, other than desire was similar to those of non-sex workers. These findings may be relevant only to sex workers operating in a highly regulated sex industry.