Sexual medicine
Encyclopedia
Sexual medicine is a medical specialty that deals with sexual health. At times heavily influenced by current local views on morality, with heavy cultural overlay, in broad terms this specialty is concerned with diagnosing, assessing and treating all aspects which relate to sexuality
.
Issues can be divided into two main areas of concern:
Sexual medicine has four dimensions:
which interferes with the perception of satisfactory sexual health. Varied conditions include absent sexual organs, hermaphrodite
and other genetic
malformations, or trauma
such as amputation
or lacerations. Sexually transmitted disease
accounts for by far the largest proportion of patients in this category. Of these, HIV
and consequently AIDS
represents a significant threat to populations throughout the world, but more especially Africa
, and within Africa in the sub-Saharan area.
, murder and suicide. Whole cultures have been adversely affected by adhering to specific attitudes regarding sexuality. Issues such as genital mutilation
(e.g. Circumcision
), institutionalised rape
, and honour killings can be attributed to such problems which, although accepted as "the norm" for a specific culture, would in other circumstances be regarded as deviant behaviour.
Examples of conditions which may be treated by specialists in this field include, but are not limited to:
may be inhibited by a reluctance of the patient to disclose intimate or uncomfortable information. Even if such an issue is on the patient's mind, he or she often doesn't start talking about such an issue without the physician initiating the subject by a specific question about sexual or reproductive health
. Some familiarity with the doctor generally makes it easier for patients to talk about intimate issues such as sexual subjects, but for some patients, a very high degree of familiarity may make the patient reluctant to reveal such intimate issues. When visiting a health provider about sexual issues, having both partners of a couple present is often necessary, and is typically a good thing, but may also prevent the disclosure of certain subjects, and, according to one report, increases the stress level.
Sexual function
Sexual function is a model developed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, defining different aspects of the assessment of sexual dysfunction comprises the following components....
.
Issues can be divided into two main areas of concern:
- disorders of the sexual organs
- disorders of the psychePsyche (psychology)The word psyche has a long history of use in psychology and philosophy, dating back to ancient times, and has been one of the fundamental concepts for understanding human nature from a scientific point of view. The English word soul is sometimes used synonymously, especially in older...
affecting sexuality
Sexual medicine has four dimensions:
- The promotional dimension (increases awareness and helps individuals have a healthy and fulfilling sex life)
- The preventive dimension (counseling)
- The curative dimension (clinical treatment of specific sexual disorders)
- The rehabilitative dimension (helps patients regain sexual health)
Disorders of the sexual organs
Congenital or acquired, these conditions refer to any pathologyPathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
which interferes with the perception of satisfactory sexual health. Varied conditions include absent sexual organs, hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
and other genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
malformations, or trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
such as amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
or lacerations. Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
accounts for by far the largest proportion of patients in this category. Of these, HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and consequently AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
represents a significant threat to populations throughout the world, but more especially Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and within Africa in the sub-Saharan area.
Disorders of the psyche affecting sexuality
A wide range of disorders can be mentioned in this section. While those unaffected can - and often do - mock the afflicted, such issues can be earth shattering in their consequences for the individual, resulting in depressionClinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, murder and suicide. Whole cultures have been adversely affected by adhering to specific attitudes regarding sexuality. Issues such as genital mutilation
Genital mutilation
Genital mutilation can refer to:*Clitoridectomy*Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision*Genital modification and mutilation*Infibulation...
(e.g. Circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
), institutionalised rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, and honour killings can be attributed to such problems which, although accepted as "the norm" for a specific culture, would in other circumstances be regarded as deviant behaviour.
Examples of conditions which may be treated by specialists in this field include, but are not limited to:
- Erectile dysfunctionErectile dysfunctionErectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
- Loss of libidoLibidoLibido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
- DyspareuniaDyspareuniaDyspareunia is painful sexual intercourse, due to medical or psychological causes. The symptom is reported almost exclusively by women, although the problem can also occur in men. The causes are often reversible, even when long-standing, but self-perpetuating pain is a factor after the original...
- pain on intercourse - Failure to complete intercourse
- Infection
- Sexuality issues
- Gender confusion
Anamnesis
The anamnesis or medical history taking of issues related to sexual or reproductive medicineReproductive medicine
Reproductive medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with prevention, diagnosis and management of reproductive problems; goals include improving or maintaining reproductive health and allowing people to have children at a time of their choosing...
may be inhibited by a reluctance of the patient to disclose intimate or uncomfortable information. Even if such an issue is on the patient's mind, he or she often doesn't start talking about such an issue without the physician initiating the subject by a specific question about sexual or reproductive health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
. Some familiarity with the doctor generally makes it easier for patients to talk about intimate issues such as sexual subjects, but for some patients, a very high degree of familiarity may make the patient reluctant to reveal such intimate issues. When visiting a health provider about sexual issues, having both partners of a couple present is often necessary, and is typically a good thing, but may also prevent the disclosure of certain subjects, and, according to one report, increases the stress level.
Societies of Sexual Medicine
There are many international medical societies for Sexual Medicine such as- The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)
- The Pan Arab Society for Sexual Medicine (PASSM) (In Arabic Language)
- The European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM)
- The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMS)
- Latin American Society for Sexual Medicine (SLAMS)
- Asia Pacific Society for Sexual Medicine (APSSM)