Sexual Health

Purpose and Rationale for the Course: Sexual health concerns are common, yet many clinicians have limited experiences providing sexual health care to patients. The goal of this course is to help build competency in knowledge and experience addressing sexual health concerns of people assigned female at birth.

Course Description: The student is responsible for seeing patients presenting to Sexual Health clinics. They will begin by shadowing several patients to observe interview techniques and will then perform history taking both via telehealth and in person. Physical exam skills will first be observed and eventually performed with direct and involved supervision by the attending. They are expected to complete notes for patients they are involved in evaluating within 24 hours. They will attend procedures in the operating room as well as in the office but the focus of this rotation will be on developing skills in assessment and management of sexual health concerns in the office setting.

Target Students: Clinical students with an interest in advancing their knowledge and experience regarding the sexual health care of people assigned female at birth.

Pre-requisites: 

• Clinical students who have successfully completed their Ob/Gyn clerkship (OB&G 303)
• Pre-course readings (available on Blackboard)

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply a positive and respectfully inclusive approach to patients regarding gender identity and sexual preference.
2. Practice supporting positive attitudes toward sexuality, healthy sexual relationships, and pleasurable and safe sexual experiences that are free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.
3. Practice counseling patients about sexual function and physiology.
4. Practice obtaining a comprehensive sexual health history using open-ended and inclusive questions.
5. Recognize common sexual dysfunction and vulvovaginal problems including: Desire, Arousal, Orgasm, Lubrication, Pain.