Talking To Your Doctor about Female Sexual Dysfunction

You may be uncomfortable at the thought of bringing up your sex life at the doctor’s office. Maybe you don’t know how to talk to your doctor about sex. However, if you and your partner want to solve any female sex problems, you'll have to talk to your doctor about it. At the very least, you'll establish whether medical issues are the cause of your declining libido, even if you feel completely healthy. Sexual problems can be an indicator of much more serious issues such as heart disease.
 
Some women prefer to talk to a female doctor or, better yet, their female gynaecologist. A conversation about a declining libido or lack of arousal follows naturally from questions about menopause, bone density and estrogen replacement.
 
If you feel reluctant to talk to your doctor about deeply personal issues, give some thought to finding a physician with whom you feel more comfortable. Find out whether your medical plan requires a referral to see a sex therapist.

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Sex

Whether or not you’re nervous, prepare yourself for an appointment with your doctor, particularly if you want to discuss a complex issue like female sexual dysfunction.
 
To ensure that you're using your visit to the fullest:
  • Write down your symptoms and when they occur. Is sex painful for you, or are you too exhausted to even begin to get intimate? Do you have a consistently low libido, or do your desires change? How long have symptoms been occurring?

  • Research the side effects of any medications you take. A low libido may be a side effect of a prescription. Be sure that your doctor is aware of any medication you take regularly.

  • Record any questions you have about female sex problems, and ask them! Don’t be embarrassed to take notes as you talk to your doctor. This information could help you talk to your partner and begin to treat the problem.

Your Doctor’s Reaction

You’re not the first person to talk to your doctor about female sexual problems, and you won’t be the last! Doctors, particularly gynaecologists, are specifically trained to help you address and treat your health concerns, sexual and otherwise. Your doctor's first strategy will be to rule out standard medical causes and physical problems. For example, the solution may be as simple as estrogen replacement if you're about to enter menopause.
 
Perhaps you have a greater need to talk about the distress the whole issue has caused you, and how you feel it's affected your relationship with your spouse or partner. If this is the case, you can ask your doctor to recommend a sex therapist. In any case, if the subject causes distress, you can benefit from counselling sessions with a good sex therapist, even if the problem is physical.
 
If you’re too embarrassed to talk about sex with your doctor, first consider all of the patients your doctor has probably encountered and all of the diseases and disorders she’s treated. Female sexual problems are very common and not at all shocking, and it’s likely that your doctor can provide some good advice to help you.

Resources

American Foundation for Urologic Disease. (2000). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved September 15, 2008, from the Impotence.org Web site:http://www.impotence.org/FAQ/index.asp#2.

Sloan, Louise (2008). What to do if your doctor is too embarrassed or busy to talk about sex. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from the health.com Web site: http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20187996,00.html.