title: "I'm not just a heart, I'm a whole person here": a qualitative study to improve sexual outcomes in women with myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about recovery of female sexual function following an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Interventions to improve sexual outcomes in women are limited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Semistructured, qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with 17 partnered women (aged 43 to 75 years) purposively selected from the Translational Research Investigating Underlying Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients' Health Status Registry to deepen knowledge of recovery of female sexual function following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) and to improve sexual outcomes in women. Sixteen women had a monogamous relationship with a male spouse; 1 had a long-term female partner. Most women resumed sexual activity within 4 weeks of their MI. Sexual problems and concerns were prevalent, including patient and/or partner fear of "causing another heart attack." Few women received counseling about sexual concerns or the safety of returning to sex. Most women who discussed sex with a physician initiated the discussion themselves. Inquiry about strategies to improve sexual outcomes elicited key themes: need for privacy, patient-centeredness, and information about the timing and safe resumption of sexual activity. In addition, respondents felt that counseling should be initiated by the treating cardiologist, who "knows whether your heart is safe," and then reinforced by the care team throughout the rehabilitation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partnered women commonly resume sexual activity soon after an MI with fear but without directed counseling from their physicians. Proactive attention to women's concerns related to sexual function and the safety of sexual activity following an MI could improve post-MI outcomes for women and their partners.
authors.affiliation: Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine for Women and Girls, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Gynecology Oncology, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Abramsohn
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garavalia
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garavalia
authors.forename: Kensey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gosch
authors.forename: Harlan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Krumholz
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spertus
authors.forename: Stacy Tessler
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lindau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: aging; myocardial infarction; outcomes; sex; women