title: Sexual counseling and cardiovascular disease: practical approaches.
abstract: Patients with cardiovascular disease and their partners expect health care providers to provide sexual counseling to assist them in maintaining sexual quality of life. Evidence suggests however, that there is a gap in integrating evidence into practice and that relatively few cardiac patients receive sexual counseling. This can result in negative psychological, physical, and quality of life outcomes for couples who may needlessly decide sexual activity is too risky and cease all sexual activity. Two scientific statements now exist that provide ample guidance to health care providers in discussing this important topic. Using a team approach that includes physicians, nurses, physical therapists, rehabilitation staff, and others is important to ensure that sexual counseling occurs throughout recovery. In addition, several trials using interventional approaches for sexual counseling provide insight into successful approaches for sexual counseling in practice. This article provides practical strategies and evidence-based approaches for assessment and sexual counseling for all cardiac patients and their partners, and specific counseling for those with ischemic conditions, heart failure, and implanted devices.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012731:Sex Counseling; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology