PSYCHOSEXUAL GYNECOLOGY

The psychosexual health of the female patient not only is affected by her overall gynecologic well-being but also may be greatly influenced by cultural myths and attitudes, psychological health, and social supp ort. For primary care physicians to incorporate the psychosexual issue s of a woman into her overall medical care, there must exist a sensiti vity to the patient's needs, an atmosphere for open discussion regardi ng sexual and psychological concerns, an office staff to provide appro priate medical support, and the availability of experienced specialist s in eases in which referral is necessary. The quality of the physicia n-patient interaction as well as the degree of empathy shown to women with gynecologic problems may exacerbate or improve psychosexual outco mes.