Training in sexology for tertiary health care institutions

The involved tertiary health care professionals are insufficiently prepared to deal with the touchy topics of sexuality and intimacy. The sexological community is insufficiently prepared to deal with the aftermath of such complex medical problems. So a better approach should be developed in both professional fields. On the one hand training modules have to be developed for the professionals in tertiary health care to change their ‘not asked–no problem’-approach into an attitude where sexuality and intimacy are understood as important topics in the recovery process, where sexual function is automatically and respectfully addressed and where necessary referral to sexology is a fluent and obvious action.

The sexological community on the other hand has to invest in the development of subspecialties such as oncosexology and rehabilitation sexology. To function well in these areas, sexology professionals should be able to handle loss, mourning and sometimes progressive disease and the prospect of death. Besides, their skills should encompass dealing with complicated organic disturbance with pain, maimed bodies and lacking hormones.

For this field sexology has to develop a variety of new technical tricks, new attitudes towards intimacy but also new ways to deal with the meaning of sex and relationship. Gianotten WL, et al. Training in sexology for medical and paramedical professionals. A model for the rehabilitation setting. Sexual and Relationship Therapy 2006;21:303-317. Krychman ML. Sexual rehabilitation medicine in a female oncology setting. Gynecologic Oncology 2006;101:380-384.