Reproductive behavior and erectile dysfunction in the undergraduate university students: cross-sectional study


Comportamiento reproductivo y disfunción eréctil en estudiantes universitarios de pregrado: estudio transversal
Safargaliyev M. Vinnikov D.
March 2025MRE Press

Revista Internacional de Andrologia
2025#23Issue 113 - 18 pp.

Background: Very little is known about erectile function (EF) and its associated predictors in the university students. The aim was to quantify the prevalence and some associated predictors of EF in a large sample of the university students from the largest National University in Kazakhstan. Methods: At Kazakh National University, 1556 male students aged 16 to 23 years filled in anonymous self-administered web-based questionnaire on their sexual and reproductive behavior, including the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) in 2023. We report age-specific prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as IIEF-5 below 22 and the association of IIEF-5 score with selected predictors in adjusted regression models. Results: At least one sexual intercourse was reported by 1306 (84%) students with the first coitus at the median age 17 (interquartile range (IQR) 17; 19) years; and 10% students reported only one ever intercourse. The median number of partners in the preceding 12 months was 1 (IQR 1; 2), but 27% reported they planned to have a child in the next 2 years (100% of 16–17- year-old and 0% of 19–20-year-old students). IIEF-5 score ranged from 21 to 25 (median 25, IQR 21; 25), and was negatively associated with age, independent of ethnicity, place of residence, number of partners and other predictors. No ED was reported by 63% (N = 827), whereas mild ED prevalence was 37% (N = 479) among students who had at least one intercourse. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of ED was very low and associated with age. Preventive interventions in place are likely efficient, but future research should focus on previously unmeasured sexual behavior attributes.

IIEF-5 , Intercourse , Regression , Young adults

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Kazakhstan-Russian Medical University, Almaty, 050021, Kazakhstan
The Scientific Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation

Kazakhstan-Russian Medical University
The Scientific Center for Obstetrics
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)

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