Industry news: Healthy relationships survey launched

Brought to the public by Lilly in the interest of healthy relationships, this survey, designed with input and assistance from Dr Caren Hadders, a psychologist and relationship expert, is available online at w.36hours-of-freedom.co.zand will take only a few minutes to complete.

"A healthy sexual relationship is a relationship where both partners are satisfied with their intimacy and sex. We often see surveys that tell us on average how often people have sex every week, but are both partners happy? In general, sex for men is more physically oriented, but for women, it is more emotionally oriented. It's not that one is wrong and one is right, we are simply different. South Africa has traditionally been a very paternalistic society, with women's rights only been addressed recently through legislation and action groups. It would be very interesting to assess how South African men and women rate their sexual satisfaction within this new scenario" says Dr Caren Hadders.

Areas to be covered in the survey include communication, intimacy, mutual respect, love, understanding, independence, trust and mutual interests. The survey will also look at issues that might affect a relationship, including conditions such as erectile dysfunction (ED).

ED, which affects over 52% on men over the age of 40, is a very common problem, but one which is easily treatable. The survey will also encourage sufferers to seek medical attention if erection problems become persistent.

The survey will be available online until the end of October, with the results being analyzed and published on the same website by the end of the year.

People completing the survey will also stand in line to win a romantic weekend for two.