Needs assessment and description Total patient care requires physicians to recognize that sexual health is a critical part of overall health. Patients have a wide range of sexual concerns, and these concerns may be expressed, implied, or—more frequently—concealed or suppressed. Most patients are reticent about broaching the subject of sexual health with their physicians. They expect their doctors to initiate such discussions but, unfortunately, the vast majority of physicians in the United States fail to do so. A reason often given is lack of qualifications to discuss, diagnose, and treat sexual problems. Thus, there is a wide gap between ideal and actual physician performance in recognizing and dealing with sexual dysfunction. It is important that this disparity be remedied with educational activities designed to train physicians about the prevalence of sexual disorders in the female population.Sexual function is dependent on a variety of physiologic, psychological, and environmental factors, including age. This CME activity will provide primary care providers and gynecologists with training in the recognition and initial treatment of female sexual dysfunction, including disorders of desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain. Learning Objectives At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:• Define the female sexual disorders and describe their prevalence in the population.
• Differentiate the components of sexual desire.
• Discuss barriers to physicians treating patients’ sexual problems.
• Outline techniques for office assessment and initial treatment of female sexual problems.ACGME competancyPatient Care; Medical Knowledge; Communication SkillsTarget audienceGynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and primary care physiciansAccreditation statementThe American Society for Reproductive Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The American Society for Reproductive Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.It is the policy of the ASRM to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its educational activities. All faculty/authors participating in this activity are expected to disclose any relationships they may have with companies whose products or services may be mentioned so that participants may evaluate the objectivity of the presentations. The content and views presented in this activity are those of the faculty/authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ASRM or Boehringer Ingelheim. Any discussion of off-label, experimental, or investigational use of drugs or devices will also be disclosed. The disclosure statements were reviewed by the Subcommittee for Standards of Commercial Support of the CME Committee of ASRM and any perceived conflicts of interest were resolved in accordance with the policies of the ACCME.
DISCLOSURE
Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, reports that she serves as a consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and is an investigator for BioSante, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Procter & Gamble. Dr Kingsberg has received honoraria from Johnson & Johnson.
Alan M. Altman, MD, reports his role as a consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim, Novogyne, QuatRx, and Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is a member of the speakers bureaus of Novogyne, Ther-Rx, Upsher-Smith, and Warner-Chilcott.
Sharon J. Parish, MD, reports that she serves as a consultant to Boehringer Ingelheim and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
There may be discussion of off-label or otherwise nonapproved uses of products and/or devices.
