Ian Hodgson

Bradford, UK

Sexual Health: An Introduction

[webaplaced 22nd February 2001]

[Author: Ian Hodgson]

Sexuality: an individual’s self concept, shaped by their personality, and expressed as sexual feelings, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, expressed through a heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or transsexual orientation

Sexual health: the physical, emotional, psychological, social and cultural well being of a person’s sexual identity, and capacity and freedom to enjoy and express sexuality without exploitation, oppression, physical or emotional harm.

(SOURCE: RCN Sexuality and Sexual Health in Nursing Practice, 2000)

The capacity to enjoy and control sexual and reproductive behaviour in accordance with a social and personal ethic

Freedom from fear, shame, guilt, false beliefs and other psychological factors that inhibit sexual responses and impair sexual relationships

Freedom from organic disorders, diseases and deficiencies that interfere with sexual and reproductive functions

Benefits of a healthy or positively developed sense of sexuality (Ingram-Fogel, 1990)

Enables people to establish a link with the future through children

provides a means of physical release of sexual pleasure

binds people together

allows us to communicate subtle, gentle or intense feelings

provides feelings of self-worth when sexual experiences are positive

helps build an individual’s identity

1. Permission – willingness to discuss sexual thoughts and feelings – ‘have you experienced a problem with sexual functioning because of your condition ?’

2. Limited information – offer limited information – e.g. effects of a particular medication

3. Specific suggestions – to facilitate sexual functioning in specific conditions – e.g. women with arthritis; during pregnancy

4. Intensive therapy – referral to nurses with advanced knowledge of sex therapy

Sexuality
Scenarios

nurse fails to draw the curtain around a patient’s bed when a bedpan is being removed

nurse laughs at an elderly post-operative patient when he tells her that having to face people without dentures is the worst thing that has happened to her for years

young male patient in a psychiatric ward is found be a female nurse masturbating; next day, he flashes at her

References

Anon (1976) – The P-LI-SS-IT model: a proposed conceptual scheme for behavioural treatment of sexual problems. Journal of Sex Education Therapy, 2. pp 1-15

Bancroft, J. (1983). Human Sexuality and its Problems. Sydney, Churchill Livingstone.

Bor, R. & Watts, M. (1993). “Talking to patients about sexual matters.” British Journal of Nursing. 2 (13): 657-660.

Cole, M. & Dryden, W. (1988). Sex Therapy in Britain. Milton Keynes, Open University Press.

Greenberg, B. S. & Busselle, R. W. (1996). “Soap operas and sexual activity: a decade later.” Journal of communication. 46 (4): 153-161.

Lewis, S. & Bor, R. (1994). “Nurses knowledge and attitudes to sex and relationships of this to nursing practice.” Journal of Advanced Nursing. 20 : 251-259.

Lowry, D. & Towles, D. (1989). “Soap opera portrayals of sex, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.” Journal of Communication. 39 (2): 76-83.

RCN (2000). Sexuality and sexual health in nursing practice. London, RCN.

Thompson, N. (1995). Age and Dignity. London, Arena.  

Webb, C. & Askham, J. (1987). “Nurses' knowledge and attitudes about sexuality: report of a study.” Nurse Education Today. 7 : 75-87.

Webb, C. (1994) – Living Sexuality: Issues for Nursing and Health. Harrow, Scutari

 

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