Many OB/GYNs in the United States don’t address sexual issues as thoroughly as they could, according to a study from the University of Chicago.
Researchers surveyed over 1,100 practicing OB/GYNs to learn more about their communications with patients. Questions addressed whether the physicians routinely discussed sexual activities, orientation, satisfaction, pleasure, and dysfunction. The researchers also asked whether the OB/GYNs ever expressed disapproval or disagreement with a patient’s sexual activities.
Demographic information, such as the physician’s age, location of medical school attended, religion, and importance of religion were also considered.
Sixty-three percent of the OB/GYNs surveyed said they routinely asked patients about sexual activities. But for other aspects of female sexual health, the numbers were lower:
• 40% asked about sexual dysfunction
• 29% addressed sexual satisfaction
• 28% asked about sexual orientation and identity
• 14% addressed sexual pleasure
In addition, 25% expressed disapproval or disagreement with a patient’s sexual activities.
Demographics contributed to some key differences. For example, female OB/GYNs were more likely than male OB/GYNS to ask about sexual activity. And doctors under age 60 were more likely than those over 60 to ask about sexual orientation and identity.
The authors saw a number of implications in their findings. They noted that physicians who focused more on gynecology were significantly more likely than other OB/GYNs (such as those who focus more on obstetrics) to ask about the areas surveyed. However, many women remain sexually active throughout pregnancy and can benefit from learning more about health risks and changes in sexuality during this time. Obstetricians could concentrate more on these concerns.
The authors pointed out that less than a third of OB/GYNs asked about a patient’s sexual orientation and identity, stressing that these two aspects may not be one and the same. For example, a woman may identify as a lesbian, but still have sex with men. That patient may want to discuss contraception. It’s also important not to alienate lesbian and bisexual women by assuming they’re heterosexual, the authors said.
While most OB/GYNs in this study did not express disapproval or disagreement with a patient’s sexual behavior, those that did tended to be foreign medical school graduates and physicians to whom religion was more important. Future research could focus on these findings as they pertain to communication about female sexual health.
Finally, the authors conclude that there is room for improvement in communication between OB/GYNs and patients. They add, “Improvement will likely depend on graduate and continuing physician education, patient demand, availability of effective treatments for female sexual concerns, and an environment of care that facilitates the patient-physician relationship.”
The study was published online in the March 22, 2012 issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Resources
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Sobecki, Janelle N., MA, et al.
“What We Don't Talk about When We Don't Talk about Sex: Results of a National Survey of U.S. Obstetrician/Gynecologists”
(Abstract – First published online March 22, 2012)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02702.x/abstract
The University of Chicago Medicine
“‘What we don’t talk about when we don’t talk about sex’”
(Press release – March 22, 2012)
http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2012/20120322-sex-screening.html