The contribution of sexology in the overall care of patients consulting for the screening of IST

Supplement : Abstracts of the 2016 International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID)

Journal of Virus Eradication 2016; 2 supplement 1

Abstract No : S3

Author(s):

Sandra Guiadeur

CeGIDD Var Ouest, Toulon, France

Abstract :

The 2015 Social Security financing law organizing, through the fusion of CDAG and CIDDIST, the new CeGIDD has opened the door to sexology and has therefore allowed to reaffirm the importance of a place where all questions about sexuality can be discussed.

Basing her action on counselling and not judging, with empathy and a positive view on things, the Conjugal Counselor/Sexologist can question the affective, relational and sexual dysfunctions.

Sexual Health is seen as an important factor of general health because it has an impact on the patient's whole life.

This place where people can speak confidentially, anonymously, with or without appointment allows patients to get information on the risks they take but also to take some time to express their emotions and try to speak about their problems.

It's a place where people can improve their knowledge on the mode of contamination, prevention, contraception but also to allow themselves to speak about personal problems.

Because the patients are not judged and their convictions are respected, it's by experiencing this free speech that they can mobilize personal and environmental resources to be able to face their troubles in a better way and find their own solutions.

The Conjugal Counselor and Family Sexologist guides patients toward other professions in the same field because her work can only be done through interdisciplinarity.

She neither examines nor prescribes, she's a professional of listening, counselling, supporting on all relational, affective and sexual problems, for single persons, couples, for all types of people, with all types of sexual orientations. She facilitates access to information that everyone can understand.

Conjugal Counselling, because of its long experience (it appeared in France in 1930s), and sexology, supported by the medical world, can both compare their views and suggest specific and complementary care. A few issues on which she can advise patients: lack of desire and pleasure, absence of orgasm, arousal problems, erection and ejaculation problems, misunderstanding, violence, unreal expectations, wrong ideas about sexuality, lack of knowledge on masculine and feminine sexuality, taboos …

These places where people can speak are also necessary to fight against gender stereotypes and against a sexuality which is endured and repressive.