The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Tips for Talking to Your Patients About Sex

Tips for Talking to Your Patients About Sex

May 13, 2021 • By Iris Zink, RN, ANP, RN-BC

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Initiate the Discussion

As you can see, many hidden issues fall into the category of sexual health that may be unspoken and, consequently, remain unaddressed. By initiating the conversation, you may be able to add the role of detective to your credentials. Bringing up the subject is easier than you may think.

You Might Also Like
  • Sex and Arthritis
  • Rheumatologists May Help Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Overcome Obstacles to Sex
  • Tips for Talking to Your Patients About Vaccination
Explore This Issue
May 2021

To open the conversation with male patients, you can ask such questions as: How are things between you and your spouse/partner? Are you and your spouse/partner still intimate? Has your rheumatic condition affected your sexual functioning?

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Opening a dialog with female patients can be as simple as asking when they last saw their gynecologist, asking about birth control or asking about vaginal dryness when discussing sicca symptoms.

My husband, Chris, a nurse practitioner, offers his patients the chance to talk about their sexual health concerns by asking them: Do you feel comfortable talking to me about sexual health issues?

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Sexual Health: Top 10 Tips

Based on my 21 years as a rheumatology nurse and unofficial sexual health expert, here are 10 suggestions to help you address a patient’s sexual health concerns.

1. Bring up the topic of sexual health with patients, their spouses and partners. Talking about sexual issues isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but people are more likely to ask questions and ask for help in the privacy of the exam room. Just because a patient doesn’t bring up the subject doesn’t mean they’re not thinking about it. You can help normalize the discussion of intimacy and sexual health by including sexual health questions in each visit. That way, you’ll be able to respond quickly to patients’ questions and help with any problems.

An individual’s attachment history, sexual history, relationship history and trauma history can be uncovered over time.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

A sexual health history can include the following questions:

  • Are you currently sexually active?
  • Are you currently sexually active with more than one partner?
  • What kinds of protection do you and your partner(s) use during sexual activity?
  • How has your illness or disease affected your sexual activity?
  • How have your medications affected your sexual activity?
  • Have you ever had a sexually transmitted disease or knowingly been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease?
  • Have you ever had, or do you now have, any discharge, rash or sores in your genital area?
  • Are there any sexual issues you would like to talk about?3

Asking about birth control choice(s) is also important. Certain medications are linked to health risks. Medications used for rheumatic diseases can also be contraindicated in individuals with human immuno­deficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C. Reactive arthritis can be activated by certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

2. Become aware of common sexual health concerns among patients. Patients may be thinking about:

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Single Page

Filed Under: Patient Perspective Tagged With: physician-patient communication, sex, sexual healthIssue: May 2021

You Might Also Like:
  • Sex and Arthritis
  • Rheumatologists May Help Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Overcome Obstacles to Sex
  • Tips for Talking to Your Patients About Vaccination
  • When & How to Talk to Your Patients About Their Gender & Sex

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2022 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)