ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Sexuality is an important component of physical, intellectual, psychologic and social well-being. This central role of sexuality in a person’s life is affected by health or illness and by many psychologic factors. Physicians have the opportunity to assess the sexual function in the course of routine history taking; however, this is rarely done. Additionally, many doctors are uncomfortable with the patient’s questions about sexuality and feel uneasy about broaching the subject themselves. In some cases, they feel that such questions are an intrusion on the patient’s privacy, even though they realize that bowel and drug habits, cigarette and alcohol use and reproductive status are also private matters. In other cases, they believe that the patient’s sexual concerns are not of medical significance or that their own ability to treat such concerns is limited. In this way, they ignore or dismiss the patient’s concerns.
