dysfunction resolve when the factors responsible
for them go away, such as when a person changes
from a high-pressure job to one that has a lower
level of stress. Sometimes simply the process of
discussing life circumstances in response to the
doctor’s questioning provides a connection
between the circumstances and the symptoms that
the person had not been able to see.
Sexual dysfunction can be a complex intertwin-
ing of physical and psychologic factors that bene-
fits from a combination of treatment for the
physical conditions and therapy (counseling) for
the psychologic and emotional factors. Relation-
ship or personal therapy may help a person come
to insight and understanding about his or her atti-
tudes and expectations about sex.
Risk Factors and Preventive MeasuresThe key risk factors for sexual dysfunction are
physical or psychologic conditions or emotional
issues that affect interest in and satisfaction with
sexual activity. Appropriate treatment combined
with open and compassionate communication can
help partners address their concerns and achieve a
level of sexual interaction that accommodates
each partner’s needs. Though it is not always pos-
sible to prevent health and life circumstances from
resulting in sexual dysfunction, most causes of
sexual dysfunction are treatable.
See also ALCOHOLISM; EJACULATION; FERTILITY;
INFERTILITY; PARAPHIMOSIS; PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DIS-
EASE(PID); PHIMOSIS; PRIAPISM; RETROGRADE EJACULA-
TION; SEXUAL HEALTH.
sexual health Measures men and women can
take to experience sexuality in ways that support
their physical and emotional well-being. A key
factor for sexual health is overall health—nutri-
tional EATING HABITS, daily physical exercise, MEDI-
TATIONor relaxation, adequate sleep, and adequate
time for leisure or recreational activities. Sexual
health further incorporates measures to reduce
the risk for health conditions specifically related to
sexual activity such as INFECTION with SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) and undesired PREG-
NANCY(CONTRACEPTION).
In addition to the physical factors of sexual
health are the psychologic, emotional, and social
factors. Despite the tendency of health-care
providers to focus on physical concerns such as
STDs because of the health issues these infections
entail, the emotional intimacy of sexual relation-
ships is an essential component of sexual health. It
is sometimes difficult to determine when a rela-
tionship is consenting and when it is abusive. Sex-
ual health requires mutual appreciation for each
partner’s needs, physical and emotional.
Young people especially may face pressure to
enter into sexual relationships yet are uncertain
that they are ready or willing to do so. The conse-
quences may be far reaching. One million teens
become pregnant in the United States each year.
STDs such as GENITAL HERPES, HEPATITISB, and hepa-
titis C are treatable but not curable. Though treat-
ment regimens now greatly extend life and
improve quality of life, HIV/AIDSremains ultimately
fatal. Other STDs may cause scarring and other
damage that results in permanent INFERTILITY.
See also BREAST HEALTH; BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION
(BSE); PROSTATE HEALTH; SEXUAL ASSAULT; SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD) PREVENTION; TESTICULAR
SELF-EXAMINATION(TSE).sexual intercourse Sexual activity that involves
penetration between sexual partners. In conven-
tional context sexual intercourse is the insertion
of a man’s erect PENISinto a woman’s VAGINAand is
the primary mechanism of human reproduction.
Male EJACULATIONpropels SEMENinto the vagina,
where the SPERMit contains may unite with an egg
(ovum) if the woman is ovulating and conditions
are conducive. In contemporary context the term
more broadly encompasses vaginal sex, anal sex,
and oral sex between partners of either gender as
acts of intimacy and pleasure, physical and emo-
tional, that may or may not include the intent to
conceive a PREGNANCY.
See also CONCEPTION; CONTRACEPTION; ORGASM;
OVULATION; SEXUAL ASSAULT; SEXUAL HEALTH; SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE(STD) PREVENTION.sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) Infections
that spread from one person to another during
sexual activity, causing illness or damage to the
body. The pathogens that cause STDs may be BAC-
TERIA, viruses, or parasites. STDs, also called sexu-
ally transmitted infections (STIs), are significant
concerns worldwide, diminishing overall healthsexually transmitted diseases (STDs) 339