Screening
The main reason for screening is that, while a majority of women do not initiate discussion of sexual dysfunction, they do consider it a legitimate entity for the physician to address.[119] Untreated dysfunctions typically lead to further dysfunction, non-compliance with medicines, and possible dysfunction in the partner. Typically, the couple adapts to less sexual interaction and potentially the relationship suffers or may even end.
It is recommended to screen all patients when carrying out a general systems review, as part of a medical history. Populations particularly at risk include women:
with mood disorders
with chronic disease (including diabetes, renal failure, hypertension, neurological disease, and endocrine disease)
who have received any form of cancer treatment (guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend routine initiation of sexual assessment)[67]
receiving antidepressants or antiseizure drugs
who have had pelvic surgery.
Guidance for healthcare professionals recommends using an introductory statement such as 'many women with your condition/at this stage in life report sexual problems; do you have any?' as women are more likely to identify their problem than when simply asked 'do you have any sexual problems?'.[119]
The American College of Gynecology recommends screening all women for a history of sexual abuse and for reproductive and sexual coersion, with particular attention to women who report pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, or sexual dysfunction.[110][120][121]
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