Sexuality and sexual health: the nurse's role and initial approach to patients.

Abstract

Sexuality is an intrinsic characteristic of all humans, which is multifactorial and encompasses aspects of the physical, social, spiritual, and moral person. It is an important aspect of the human experience and comprises a portion of how people view themselves. Patients, even if they are ill, still are sexual beings and nurses must open communication about sexuality and sexual problems. If nurses are to treat the whole person, sexuality issues must be addressed. It is important to address these issues because sexual dysfunction is a prevalent problem. In a study of approximately 3,000 men and women, Laumann, Paik, and Rosen (1999) found that greater than 30% of men and over 40% of women reported sexual dysfunction. With the advent of new therapies for both men and women, now more than ever, it is the health care clinician’s responsibility to identify sexual problems and facilitate patients in finding appropriate treatment options.