To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction (SD) among younger married men living in rural China.

An anonymous questionnaire was self-administered by the husbands of 298 randomly selected married women aged 20 to 39 years.

Of all 298 respondents, 84 (28.8%) had at least one of the seven studied SDs. The prevalence of an individual SD ranged from 3.7% (physical pain) to 19.5% (premature ejaculation); 41.9% were dissatisfied with their sexual life. Age, education level, age at marriage, and income were, in general, not statistically significant in predicting SD. Adjusting for age, education level, and age at marriage, the following were significantly associated with different categories of SD: smoking, SD of the wife, perceived health status, mental health and vitality quality of life (QOL), sharing a bedroom with nonspouse family members, masturbation, and the perceived importance of sexual life. Income, the perceived importance of sexual life and adequate sexual knowledge, mental health QOL, inability to achieve climax, and erectile problems were independently associated with sexual satisfaction.

SD among younger married men in rural China was significantly associated with mental health QOL and vitality QOL. Other factors, such as perceived physical health, room sharing, and spousal SD, were also involved. Most respondents perceived their sexual knowledge to be inadequate, which was also associated with sexual satisfaction. Because various factors were significant in predicting SD, multiple approaches are required in promoting sexual health in this study population.