Motivations and sexual attitudes, experiences, and behavior of sexuality professionals.

This study examined the motivations for entering the field and sexual attitudes, experiences, and behavior of an international group of sexuality professionals. Participants were 252 individuals attending the XVII World Congress of Sexology who completed a questionnaire in English, Spanish or French. Most participants' reported professional rather than personal motivations for entering the field in addition to interest. On average, participants reported little sexual communication with their parents as children. About one-third had experienced unwanted sexual activity as a child. Participants were mostly accepting of a range of sexual activities, although they were less accepting of some behaviors than of others. Twelve of the participants who had engaged in sexual activity with a casual or anonymous partner in the previous 2 years had not used a condom consistently. Participants reported high sexual satisfaction and good sexual communication with their partner. Nevertheless, 45% of the women and 35% of the men reported regularly experiencing one or more sexual problems. Few participants reported that their profession affected their sexual functioning negatively; in contrast most reported that it had positive effects on their sexual functioning. These results suggest that there are few differences between sexuality professionals and the general public.

Sex for seniors: how physicians discuss older adult's sexuality.

BACKGROUND: This study examined physicians' perspectives on sexuality in later life. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted among 38 physicians with various specialties and they were asked to discuss sexuality in later life within the medical context. RESULTS: Perceptions on older adult's sexuality emerged from the interviews were organized into three themes: What, why and how. What, referred to physician's definition to what role sexuality plays in later life and what is considered sex. Why, referred to the reasons why physicians assumed older adults experience sexual difficulties, and how these assumptions effect the diagnostic process. How, referred to how sexual difficulties were treated by physicians. Physicians employed a bio-medical approach when treating older, as compared to young adults with sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight a potential for differential treatment of older adults, based on age, rather than on other objective reasons.

[Oncosexology--sex therapy for cancer patients].

In recent years, cancer, the main cause of patients' mortality in the western world, is turning into a chronic disease with increasing survivor rates, following advances in treatment methods. The disease and its therapies have a negative effect on the patient's quality of life and that of his or her partner and other family members. Cancer and its associated treatments [chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical procedures] lead to a decline in the patients' level of physiological as well as psychological functioning and have a negative impact on their ability to maintain intimacy and healthy sex life with their partners. Sexual dysfunctions are identified among the majority of oncology patients, particularly those with gynecological and urological cancers. Although sexual problems are common among cancer patients, very little professional and therapeutic attention is provided to them. More so, the patients themselves are usually not aware of and do not receive adequate information regarding their sexual difficulties and about possible treatments. The oncosexology intervention system encompasses a team of interdisciplinary professionals (medical doctors, psychologists, social workers, couple therapists and sexologists, oncology nurses etc), together providing cancer patients and their partners with up-to-date information and adequate therapy focusing on their sexual and relational needs. There is currently a need to increase awareness and provide professional training in the field of oncosexology to medical doctors, nurses and other professional working with cancer patients in order for them to support their clients and improve their quality of life.

[Female sexual dysfunction: classification, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment].

The successful pharmacological treatment of erectile dysfunction in males has led to increasing interest in the sexual problems of women. Yet in recent years there has been growing consensus regarding the differences between male and female sexuality. William Masters and Virginia Johnson's model of sexual response, revised by Helen Singer Kaplan, has been generally accepted for many decades. This model consists of 4 successive phases: desire, excitement (arousal), orgasm and resolution. Rosemary Basson has suggested a different model, valid especially in long-term relationships. According to Basson, a woman may decide to seek a stimuli necessary to ignite sexual desire, for reasons which are not sexual (such as the need for intimacy or emotional bonding). The desire develops at a latter stage, as a consequence and not as a cause. As the understanding of the sexual response grows, new methods of classification and treatment are being developed. Female sexual dysfunction is common, frequently neglected and has a significant impact on the lives of women. It has a diverse etiology including anatomical, physiological, medical as well as psychological and social factors. The assessment of these disorders incorporates both medical and psychological evaluation. The treatment includes education, improvement of inter-personal communication, behavioral treatment and the solution of medical problems. Different medications are being developed but most have yet to be proven effective. This review presents the female sexual response as it is understood today and the different methods of classification, diagnosis and treatment of female sexual dysfunction.