Sexual Health History: Addressing a Commonly Neglected Health Indicator in Gynecologic Surgery

Sexual health is a fundamental component of a person's overall well-being, and sexual dysfunction can often be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. These factors can be critical for optimizing pre-, peri-, and postoperative care in a gynecologic surgery practice. Sexual function remains underemphasized in both medical education and clinical practice, particularly for women and people assigned female at birth. As a result, only a small proportion of providers feel equipped to routinely address sexual problems with their patients, despite the vast majority recognizing sexual health as essential to patient care. A careful review of articles addressing sexual health history taking was performed in PubMed. Two evidence-based, inclusive approaches are described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Because sexual health is often overlooked and undervalued, particularly for women and people assigned female at birth, it is imperative that gynecologic surgeons are on the forefront of identifying sexual dysfunction and also prioritizing sexual function in planning for surgery.