Online guidance on sexual health
Paul Woolley
pp 3-3
For those who have an interest in sexual health, there are a number of societies offering guidance. The Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Diseases (MSSVD), formed in
1922, is probably the oldest (in 2003, it was merged with the Association for Genitourinary Medicine to form the British Association for
Sexual Health and HIV). In the last 20 years, a number of other societies have emerged,
providing good evidence-based information available to both the public and the clinician.
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The science of female sexual desire: hormones and the brain
Abhijeeth Shetty and Kevan Wylie
pp 4-6
Sex research has advanced tremendously since the pioneering efforts of Alfred Kinsey, and William Masters and Virginia Johnson. However, despite increased attention being paid to the research of the neurobiology of sexual
desire, our understanding is still incomplete. The neurobiology of human sexual function is complicated. Neurotransmitters, the endocrine system and the central nervous system all interact to affect sexual functioning. The objective of
this article is to give an overview of the central effects of sex hormones on the female sexual function, as well as to discuss the neurobiology of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
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How to advise patients on sex after gynaecological cancer
Eileen Bamber
pp 7-9
A diagnosis of cancer is always distressing, but,
for women, a diagnosis of gynaecological cancer is particularly stressful, as the uterus, ovaries, vagina and vulva are so closely linked
to issues of femininity, childbearing and sexuality.
Gynaecological cancer can have devastating effects on sexual functioning in women as a
result of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Effects may be physical and/or psychosexual, and there may also be associated
relationship difficulties.
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How technology can help diagnosis
Shiv Shanker Pareek
pp 10-10
Dr Shiv Shanker Pareek has sent the following example of how a picture taken on a mobile telephone has helped diagnosis.
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The Introductory Certificate in Sexual Health: why it is needed
Chris Ford and Russell Fleet
pp 11-13
Sexual health is an integral part of most of our lives. In general practice, we care for a wide range of people with a whole spectrum of conditions
(from acute physical ailments to chronic emotional health problems), many of which can
affect their sexual health, as well as dealing with the more directly related issues of contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. Social, economic, cultural and political factors also have an impact on sexual health and
general practice is well placed to observe this.
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The Havens: helping young people after sexual assault
Louise Morgan, Samantha Keeling and Parminder Sidhu
pp 14-17
The needs of young people following rape and sexual assault are varied and often highly complex. Issues around education, relationships,
sexual health, alcohol and drug use, self-harm, body image and social inclusion all play a role in the young person’s well-being. The aim of
this article is to illustrate how the needs of young people who have been sexually assaulted differ from those of adults and to emphasise the
importance of tailoring services to care for young people. The article also outlines the services available to young people at the three Havens sexual assault referral centres in London.
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The Men’s Health Forum battles for better male health David Wilkins BA Policy Officer, Men’s Health Forum Contact Men’s
David Wilkins
pp 18-18
The Men’s Health Forum (MHF) is the only independent
national organisation campaigning for better health for men and boys. Our fundamental contention – that male health in the UK is
poorer than it need be – is almost never disputed; what stumps many is what to do about it.
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The laws of sexual attraction
David Hicks
pp 19-19
I am unsure as to why people continue to try to define human sexual attraction, but they do. The Centre for Mathematics and Physics in Life
Sciences and Experimental Biology (CoMPLEX) at University College London has recognised the long-held hypothesis that women looking for the best chance of getting pregnant have evolved to seek the optimum ‘sperm load’.
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