Should questionnaires of female sexual dysfunction be used in routine clinical practice?

The aim of this paper is to explore the potential value of questionnaires in routine clinical practice to assess female sexual dysfunction (FSD), and to identify if this could increase the competence of a physician in the initial management of women with these problems. The rationale to encourage Health Care Professionals (HCPs) to engage women in dialogue about their sexual health is that it may enhance a woman's quality of life (which may lead to improved general health) and might lead to timely interventions and possible preventative measures for certain diseases.

A short literature review of the most relevant publications was undertaken evaluating current practice.

FSD can have a negative impact on women's well-being and can also be an early symptom of underlying disease. Many HCPs do not broach the subject, consequently women do not get the opportunity either to voice their sexual concerns or access appropriate services. Review of currently available FSD questionnaires suggests that many but not all are generally inappropriate for use in routine clinical practice. Kriston et al.'s STEFFI-2 may be an appropriate starting point. Evidence suggests that this would facilitate discussion of sexual matters between the HCP and the women, and increase the likelihood of FSD being diagnosed.

Following this review of the literature, the authors strongly recommend that HCPs include FSD questionnaires as part of their routine engagement with women. However, the questionnaire would need to be used as part of the overall assessment and cannot replace a detailed case history and examination, which should lead to effective treatment and management of FSD. The authors recommend further research in the following areas: • Effective training for HCPs. • FSD as an early presentation of sub-clinical disease. • The cost-benefit of early treatment of FSD. • A standardised, validated FSD screening tool. • Benefits of using FSD screener in routine clinical practice.