AB021. Doctor-patient sexual communication

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is often associated with physical, psycho-social and emotional factors. It is a multi-causal and multidimensional problem incorporating the biological, psychological and interpersonal factors. For patients with sexual dysfunction, their sexual and social life has been physically disconcerting, emotionally distressing and socially disruptive. Sexual dysfunctions can be a symptom of deep-seated personality conflict. It is clear that psychosocial factors play an important role, be it causative or as a consequent of sexual dysfunction. With the increasing awareness of the role of psychosocial factors, a variety of therapeutic approaches in the treatment of sexual dysfunction has been developed. Apart from the comprehensive and detailed sexual and psychosocial history, physical examination and other laboratory tests, psychosexual counseling and sex therapy is deem pertinent for sexual dysfunction with a psychosocial or behavioral origin, as majority of these sexual dysfunction stem from psychological, social and attitudinal determinants. Psychosexual counseling together with sex therapy has entered into the mainstream medical professional world since the publication of Master and Johnson’s Human Sexual Inadequacy in the 1970s. This lecture gives an overview of the principles of psychosexual counseling and the PLISSIT model of sex therapy in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. It is important that healthcare providers become knowledgeable and comfortable in the psycho-social evaluation and treatment of sexual dysfunction, so as to increase the quality of life of these patients.