King Louis XVI and phimosis

THE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION OF LOUIS XVI: A CONSEQUENCE OF
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, ANATOMY, OR NAÏVETÉ?
Ryan N. Fogg and Stephen A. Boorjian* – Department of Urology, Temple
University Hospital, and *the Department of Urologic Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center,
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Accepted for publication 1 April 2010

My doctor thinks the operation is not necessary, but could be very
useful. The king’s doctor . . . says there (are) many drawbacks to having the operation and an equal number of drawbacks in not having it’
King Louis XVI
The sexual dysfunction of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette was most likely multi-factorial.Anatomy, politics, and a lack of formal sexual education each may have contributed to the couple’s initial lack of intimacy.
Unfortunately, while the couple appears to have eventually overcome these obstacles in the bedroom, their early marital difficulties became a source of popular political
contention, which may in part have led to the demise of their reign and their ultimate execution.