Post-COVID syndrome’s impact on sex life – results from a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Background: Having a satisfying sexual life is important to many people and impairment of sexual function is often perceived as a burden. This study investigates the self-perceived impairments to sex life in adults with Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) and factors that are associated with impaired sex life.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of people with PCS and without PCS was conducted in Northern Germany. Sex life impairments were assessed using item 8 (frequency and quality of sex life) of the Index for the Assessment of Health Impairments (IMET), scored from 0 (no impairment) to 10 (no activity possible). Scores were analyzed as a continuous outcome because no validated cut-offs have been established for this individual item. Linear regression models were used to adjust for sociodemographic factors as well as medical and mental health conditions. Sample weighting for age and gender was applied in sensitivity analyses to adjust for a representative sample of people with PCS.
Results: A total of 892 participants were included, with 67.8% (n = 605) reporting PCS. Persons with PCS reported significantly higher sex life impairments (mean score 4.62) compared to those without PCS (mean score 2.58, p < 0.001). The regression model confirmed that PCS was associated with sex life impairments (β = 1.16, p < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between sex life impairments and the symptom duration symptoms or the respondents´ gender.
Conclusions: Impaired sex life is a significant concern for PCS patients, that warrants attention from healthcare providers. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing sex life impairments in the care of people with PCS.
Related
- Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Burn Injuries: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Canadian Tertiary Pediatric Hospital
- Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: Nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study
- Malignant transformation in diabetic foot ulcers: A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of pathology results on patient management after diabetic foot surgery.
- The impact of frailty syndrome on illness acceptance and treatment adherence in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
- Health-Related Quality of Life and Family Impact in Young Children with Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Caregiver-Reported Study
BibTeX
@article{schroder2026postcovid,
title = {{Post-COVID syndrome’s impact on sex life – results from a cross-sectional study}},
author = {Dominik Schröder and Tim Schmachtenberg and Stephanie Heinemann and Christina Müllenmeister and Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka and Eva Hummers and Eva Maria Noack and Marie Mikuteit and Jacqueline Niewolik and Sandra Steffens and Frank Klawonn and Andrea Stölting and Christine Happle and Frank Müller},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-30045-0},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-30045-0},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Post-COVID syndrome’s impact on sex life – results from a cross-sectional study
AU - Dominik Schröder
AU - Tim Schmachtenberg
AU - Stephanie Heinemann
AU - Christina Müllenmeister
AU - Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka
AU - Eva Hummers
AU - Eva Maria Noack
AU - Marie Mikuteit
AU - Jacqueline Niewolik
AU - Sandra Steffens
AU - Frank Klawonn
AU - Andrea Stölting
AU - Christine Happle
AU - Frank Müller
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-30045-0
UR - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-30045-0
AB - Background: Having a satisfying sexual life is important to many people and impairment of sexual function is often perceived as a burden. This study investigates the self-perceived impairments to sex life in adults with Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) and factors that are associated with impaired sex life. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of people with PCS and without PCS was conducted in Northern Germany. Sex life impairments were assessed using item 8 (frequency and quality of sex life) of the Index for the Assessment of Health Impairments (IMET), scored from 0 (no impairment) to 10 (no activity possible). Scores were analyzed as a continuous outcome because no validated cut-offs have been established for this individual item. Linear regression models were used to adjust for sociodemographic factors as well as medical and mental health conditions. Sample weighting for age and gender was applied in sensitivity analyses to adjust for a representative sample of people with PCS. Results: A total of 892 participants were included, with 67.8% (n = 605) reporting PCS. Persons with PCS reported significantly higher sex life impairments (mean score 4.62) compared to those without PCS (mean score 2.58, p < 0.001). The regression model confirmed that PCS was associated with sex life impairments (β = 1.16, p < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between sex life impairments and the symptom duration symptoms or the respondents´ gender. Conclusions: Impaired sex life is a significant concern for PCS patients, that warrants attention from healthcare providers. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing sex life impairments in the care of people with PCS.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -