Sexual Health And Sexual Dysfunction Flashcards
What is hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD)?
It presents with loss of libido and decline in sexual desire.
It affects personal relationships and causes distress.
What are the causes of HSDD?
Psychosexual (majority) Menopause Depression Chemotherapy Radiotherapy
What are important questions to ask in patients with possible HSDD?
When it started, normal sexual function, realistic and at odds with sexual partner? Relationship problems?
What is the treatment for HSDD?
Psychosexual counselling
Testosterone supplementation may help (especially if symptoms followed oophorectomy)
What are they causes of superficial dyspareunia?
Infections
Skin conditions like lichen sclerosis
How can superficial dyspareunia be treated?
Treat the underlying cause
But pain can start a cycle of fear, anticipation and avoidance
Lubricants and local anaesthetics can help to break the cycle
What is vaginismus?
Difficulty of the woman to allow vaginal penetration despite wanting to
It involves involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles an adductors
It is a symptom/sign, but not a diagnosis
Usually precipitated by another cause - physical/psychological
When suspecting vaginismus what should first be excluded?
Anatomical problems like vaginal septae
What is the management for vaginismus?
Vaginal dilators may alleviate the pubococcygeal reflex
Encourage the woman to use her own fingers in combination with some relaxation exercises
What is vulvodynia?
A burning pain occurring in the absence of visible findings/a clinically identifiable neurological disorder
What is the treatment for vulvodynia?
MDT approach with physio, psychosexual medicine and pain management
First line treatment: pelvic floor exercises, internal and external perineal massage, topical anaesthetic
Tricyclic antidepressants and gabapentin may also work
What is the general management for sexual dysfunction?
Lifestyle: diet, exercise, stress reduction, exploration of relationship problems/body image issues
Education: body function, encourage exploration, sexual education material, lubricants
Hormonal: oestrogen replacement in menopausal women, testosterone if oophorectomy and HSDD
Behavioural therapy
Devices: e.g. for anorgasmia or vaginismus such as dilators or clitoral stimulators
What are the key symptoms to ask about in the sexual history for a woman?
Genital skin changes Vulval itching or soreness Dysuria Abnormal vaginal discharge Abnormal vaginal bleeding Dyspareunia Abdominal/pelvic pain Systemic symptoms
What are important questions to ask about vaginal discharge?
Volume
Colour - including if it was blood-stained
Consistency - thickened or watery
Smell
Which STIs cause abnormal vaginal discharge and what are the characteristics of each?
Gonorrhoea Chlamydia Bacterial vaginosis - offensive, fishy-smelling discharge - no soreness or irritation Trichomonas vaginalis - yellow, frothy discharge - associated with vaginal itching and irritation
What are the different types of vaginal bleeding and what are the causes of each?
Post-coital bleeding
- infection, cervical ectropion, cervical cancer
Intermenstrual bleeding
- infection, cervical/endometrial cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, hormonal contraception, pregnancy
What are the causes of dyspareunia?
STIs, endometriosis, vaginal atrophy, malignancy
What are the different types of dyspareunia?
Superficial - e.g. genital herpes
Deep - e.g. gonorrhoea, chlamydia
What are important questions to ask about dyspareunia?
Do you experience pain around the time of having sex?
How long does it last?
When does it occur? (Before, during or after)
Is the aim on the surface and in the vagina or more deep?
Nature of the pain
What are the risk factors for STIs?
Unprotected sexual intercourse Multiple sexual partners 15-24 year olds Illicit drug and alcohol use MSM Sex workers Urba areas
What is the causative organism for chlamydia?
Chlamydia trachomatis
How is chlamydia transmitted?
Obligate intracellular bacteria - predominantly transmitted via sexual contact
Also perinatal transmission from mother to baby during vaginal deliver - can lead to neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia
What is the presentation of chlamydia?
Asymptomatic in over 80% of cases
Males - mucupurulent discharge, dysuria, scrotal pain, proctitis
Females - mucupurulent vaginal discharge, cervicitis, cervical bleeding upon contact, proctitis, point-coital bleeding, IMB
What are the diagnostic investigations for chalmydia?
NAAT - first pass urine in males; vulvovaginal swabs in females
Oropharyngeal and rectal sites can also be swabbed
What is the management for chlamydia?
Azithromycin 1g oral single dose/
Doxycycline 100mg oral BD for 1 week (favoured if proctitis present)/
Erythromycin 500mg oral BD for 2 weeks
Contact tracing and partner notification need to be offered
All forms of sex should be avoided until both parties tested and treated
What are the complications of chlamydia?
PID - increases risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility
Epididymitis
Prostatitis
Reactive arthritis
What is lymphogranuloma venerum?
Caused by a more invasive stereotype of chlamydia trachomatis
Causes a triad of inguinal lymphadenopathy, proctocolitis and fever
What is the causative organism of gonorrhoea?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae