Demographıc factors, sexual ıdentıty and sexual functıonıng of turkısh heterosexual males

he purpose of this study was to investigate males' perspectives on sexuality. Sexual identity, demographic factors and sexual functioning in males are important to examine how they perceive and understand when it comes to sexuality before and after the marriage. Few studies were conducted on male sexuality in Turkey. A total of 78 healthy heterosexual males volunteered in order to collect data for this research. Due to the potential insufficiency for the necessary number of participants, they were selected with the snowballing data collection technique. Their ages ranged between 23 and 57 years old with an average of 30. Most of them (61%) were either married or being in a relationship. They agreed to participate in this study and responded the items in two questionnaires, demographic data form, and sexual history questionnaire. Questionnaire items included biological sexual identity and sexual orientation questions. The items on both forms were semistructured, prepared by the researchers with implementing related previous studies. Findings showed that most of the participants had a sexual interest in others including the girlfriend, neighbor, schoolmates, and relatives during adolescence and adulthood times. Their sexual functioning was sexual intercourse during these periods. They mainly masturbate, prefer coitus at home at least twice a week, and highly satisfied with their sexual life. According to our results, like masturbation habits, Turkish males showed similar sexual behaviors and functioning compared to their international counterparts. Their sexual behaviors transform into adulthood, from erotic fantasies to physical sexual activities. Several males (70%) continued masturbation after marriage, which was an unexpected result. 23% of the male participants normally don’t expect extraordinary desires from their partners and almost none of the partners expect them, either. They hold thoughts of sexual fantasies more than partners.