Abstract
Sexual health can be described as enjoying and fulfilling sexual desires without causing harm, physical or psychological, to oneself or others. Psychosexual problems affect about 40% of the population and sexual functioning is an important part of a patient's health and well-being. Patients often present late due to embarrassment and commonly with an alternative problem. Learning to recognize and act upon both verbal and non-verbal clues, with empathy, is essential in their management. This article aims to give an overview of common psychosexual problems, specific circumstances where they present more frequently and management options.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Basson
R.
Female sexual dysfunctions the new models . British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease (2002 ) 2 : p. 267 –70 . Accessed via dvd.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/2/4/267 [date last accessed 18.10.2009].
2.
Basson
R.
Rethinking low sexual desire in women . BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2002 ) 109 : p. 4 , 357 –363 Accessed via www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/118932355/PDFSTART [date last accessed 18.10.2009].
3.British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy . Accessed via www.basrt.org.uk.
4.
Clark
L.
Toole
M.
Intellectual impairment and sexual health: Information needs . British Journal of Nursing (2007 ) 16 : p. 3 , 154 –6 .
5.
GP notebook. Accessed via www.gpnotebook.co.uk.
6.
Greil
R.L.
Infertility and psychological distress: A critical review of the literature . Social Science and Medicine (1997 ) 45 : p. 1679 –704 .
7.
Herek
G.M.
Gartners
L.D.
Sexual orientation and mental health. Annual review . Clinical Psychology (2007 ) 3 : p. 353 –75 .
8.Institute of psychosexual medicine . Accessed via www.ipm.org.uk [date last accessed 11.08.2009].
9.RCGP Curriculum statement number 11 : Sexual Health . Accessed via www.rcgp-curriculum.org.uk/PDF/curr_11_Sexual_Health.pdf [date last accessed 10.09.2009].
10.Relate for counselling, sexual therapy and relationship education . Accessed via www.relate.org.uk [date last accessed 10.09.2009].
11.
www.outsiders.org.uk tel: 0707 499 3527.
12.
Skrine
R.
Montford
H.
Psychosexual medicine: an introduction (2001 ) UK : Hodder Arnold . ISBN: 0340761423.
13.
Stanlay
E.
Principles of managing sexual problems . British Medical Journal (1981 ) 282 : p. 1200 –2 .
14.
Tomlinson
J.M.
ABC of sexual health (2005 ) BMJ books: Blackwell Publishing ISBN: 0727917595.
15.
Tugnet
N.
Goddard
J.C.
Current management of male-to-female gender identity disorder in the UK . Postgraduate Medical Journal (2007 ) 83 : p. 638 –42 .