At some point in their adult life, most
men and women will face concerns over
sexual satisfaction, performance and
desire. It’s important to speak with your
doctor about these issues, because the
sooner they are addressed, the easier it is
to return to a satisfying, healthy sex life.
Women
Sexual health concerns in women can
be related to pregnancy and childbirth,
menopause and aging. Body image, stress
and relationship issues can also play a role in
a woman’s sexual desire and satisfaction, so
it’s important to identify the causes at play.
“First, establish whether a problem
exists,” says Kay Hoskey, MD, a
urogynecologist with the Women’s Center
for Pelvic Health. “Many women wonder
what’s normal and what isn’t. If either
you or your partner has concerns, it’s
worthwhile to bring them up.”
Red ags:
Pain during intimacy may
mean there is a problem. It can signify
infection or changes in vaginal tissue such
as atrophy due to hormones, medications
or medical conditions. Pain may also
signify broids and other uterine issues.
Men
Erectile dysfunction (ED) a ects between
40 and 70 percent of men between the
ages of 40 and 60, yet most men don’t
seek treatment. “ ey think other men
their age aren’t having the same problem,”
says Juddson Chason, MD, a urologist
with Anne Arundel Urology. “In fact,
many men su er from ED.”
e factors that cause ED include high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes,
obesity, smoking, age, sleep apnea, poor
diet, and lack of exercise. All of those cause
damage to the arteries,
which can reduce
blood ow to the
penis. But even in
men with healthy
arteries, anxiety can
play a role, as can
genetics. e good
thing is, treatment
often works.
Red ags:
Because
ED is associated
with restricted blood
ow, it may be a
sign of underlying
heart disease, so it’s
important to bring it
up with your doctor.
Enjoy intimacy, quality of life
Sexual dysfunction and diminished
satisfaction with sexual intimacy are
common but treatable conditions, and
many health insurance providers cover
treatment.
“ e most important thing is to come in
and talk about what’s going on,” Dr. Chason
says. “Don’t be afraid of it. It’s easy to just
mention at your regular checkup, but you
should also feel free to make an appointment
to talk about this issue alone.”
Dr. Hoskey agrees, and adds, “If you’re
uncomfortable talking about sexual health,
bring in a list of written questions to help
focus the discussion.”
With the right treatment, those who
experience sexual dysfunction can enjoy
intimacy again and have a healthy sex life.
For a list of common sexual health
concerns and treatment options, visit
askAAMC.org/SexualHealth
.
REGAINING INTIMACY
Physical Therapy
Gives Couple Hope
For two years, pain and bleeding
had prevented Jeannette Mitchell,
of Mayo, and her husband, Jim,
from having sexual intercourse.
In August 2013, doctors had
found a large tumor in Jeannette’s
abdomen and diagnosed her with
stage III cervical cancer.
A year a er diagnosis, scarring
from radiation treatment made
sex impossible, but good
communication between Jeannette
and her husband is helping them
through the emotional and physical
toll it has taken on their marriage.
“I’m going to physical therapy
twice a week, and it’s helped me a
lot,” says Jeannette.
“There are exercises to do, and
my therapist has really talked us
both through a lot of stu in the
past months. She’s asked him to
try to get a little intimate with me,
but not to the point where it hurts.
He’s willing to do anything it takes
to help me get back to where we can
be intimate with each other again.”
Juddson
Chason, MD
Kay Hoskey, MD
We o en talk about physical health, mental health and emotional
well-being, but sexual health is an important aspect of adult life
that o en gets le out of discussions with our doctors. For some
adults, it can be an uncomfortable subject to talk about. A
healthy sex life contributes to a positive outlook and improved
quality of life, and it helps maintain healthy relationships.
Talk to your doctor about sexual health concerns. Need a doctor? Visit
askAAMC.org/FindaDoc
or call
443-481-5555
.
askAAMC.org
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