title: A Model for the Management of Female Sexual Dysfunctions.
abstract: IntroductionSexual pleasure is fundamental for the maintenance of health and well-being, but it may be adversely affected by medical and psychosocial conditions. Many patients only feel that their health is fully restored after they resume normal sexual activities. Any discussion of sexuality in a doctor's office is typically limited, mainly because of a lack of models or protocols available to guide the discussion of the topic.ObjectivesTo present a model designed to guide gynecologists in the management of female sexual complaints.MethodsThis study presents a protocol used to assess women's sexual problems. A semi-structured interview is used to assess sexual function, and the teaching, orienting and permitting (TOP) intervention model that was designed to guide gynecologists in the management of sexual complaints.ResultsThe use of protocols may facilitate the discussion of sexual issues in gynecological settings, and has the potential to provide an effective approach to the complex aspects of sexual dysfunction in women. The TOP model has three phases:teachingthe sexual response, in which the gynecologist explains the physiology of the female sexual response, and focuses on the three main phases thereof (desire, excitement and orgasm);orientinga woman toward sexual health, in which sexual education is used to provide information on the concept and healthy experience of sexuality; andpermittingand stimulating sexual pleasure, which is based on the assumption that sexual pleasure is an individual right and is important for the physical and emotional well-being.ConclusionThe use of protocols may provide an effective approach to deal with female sexual dysfunction in gynecological offices.
authors.affiliation: Human Reproduction Sector, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Alves da Silva
authors.initials: LADS
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Medical Outpatient of Gynecology, Violence and STDs, Sexology Ambulatory, Gynecology Department, Hospital Materno Infantil Presidente Vargas - PMPA, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Cristina Poerner
authors.initials: SCP
authors.lastname: Scalco
authors.affiliation: Human Reproduction Sector, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlia Kefalás
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Troncon
authors.affiliation: Department of Sexual Medicine, Hospital Mater Dei, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gerson Pereira
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011996:Records; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*