Sexual disorders in the family medicine practice

Abstract:

Sexual disorders are highly prevalent: one third of women and one fourth of men will, at least once in their lifetime, have some sexual problem. Despite this fact, people with sexual problems rarely seek for help. The role of the family medicine physician is extremely important in treating sexual problems, due to their direct contact and a good relationship with their patients, and background information about patients and their families. One of the well-proved methods of treating sexual problems by non-sexologists is the Anon's PLISSITH method. The permission step and the limited information step can be provided by every single physician, and with a little effort the physician can learn how to engage in the step of specific suggestions. It is especially important that physicians pay attention to sexual problems in women, because although women have sexual problems more often than men, they do not seek help as often as men. 

Key words:
anxiety; counselling; history taking; sexual disorders; sexual health