Abstract
ObjectivesMany chronic diseases and their medications may induce sexual problems. This study aimed to evaluate whether general practitioners (GPs) raise sexual health issues during appointments with patients who have chronic diseases. Study designA web-based questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 1,000 GPs in Finland. Main outcome measuresThe study aim was to determine GPs’ self-reported inquiry into sexual problems with patients who have chronic diseases and GPs’ awareness of medications inducing sexual problems. ResultsOnly 16.2% of the GPs inquired about sexual health issues, typically during appointments dealing with reproductive organs. A majority (66.9%) considered sexual problems to be side-effects of medications, but only 17.9% followed up about them. Compared to male GPs, female GPs were more likely to inquire about gynecologic patients’ sexual issues (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.05–2.99), but less likely to ask about them with urologic (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35–0.91) and neurologic patients (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17–0.72). The GPs aged 40–49 and 50–65 were more likely than those aged 27–39 to inquire about sexual health issues among patients with cardiovascular (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.11–7.44, OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.16–7.19) and neurologic (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.45–14.82, OR 5.68, 95% CI 1.87–17.23) diseases. ConclusionsGPs seldom inquire about sexual problems with patients who have chronic diseases or after prescribing medications for these conditions, which may lead to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of sexual problems.
Highlights
Sexual health is important for overall health and well-being
Compared to the general practitioners (GPs) in the age group of 27–39 years, the GPs in the age groups of 40–49 years and 50–65 years were more likely to inquire about sexual problems; there were no differences between the latter two age groups
The GPs most often inquired about sexual problems from urologic, family planning, gynecologic, and menopause/andropause patients, whereas they were unlikely to inquire about these problems from pa tients with an immigrant background or substance abuse history
Summary
Many patients wish to address their sexual health issues dur ing appointments, they do not necessarily take the initiative themselves. One reason for this is that they believe that their sexual problems cannot be helped [1]. In a study of gynecologic cancer and breast cancer patients, 70% of the women were concerned about their sexual function They mostly reported vaginal dryness (55%) and loss of libido (51%) [14]. Despite wishing that their physicians would bring up sexual health issues, nearly 50% of these patients had
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