This is an excerpt of a blog published on Evidently Cochrane.
Introducing Cochrane UK’s special blog series #theproblemwithsex, which aims to lift the lid on sex and chronic health conditions, on the lack of good evidence for treatments, challenges around talking about sex, and on what can be done to change things for the better.
We have a problem with sex. Lots of problems, actually. It’s easy to think that sex is everywhere in the media. Sex sells, right? But I get the impression that there’s very little discussion about the sexual problems (let’s not talk in general terms about ‘dysfunction’ – a terribly clinical word with a whiff of judgement about it) experienced by many, many people, associated with long-term health conditions and treatments.
What do we hear about sex and cancer, diabetes or mental health problems? When does the person attending an appointment to discuss their medication or latest test results get to talk about sex, which might be uppermost on their mind but the thing they feel least able to mention? If they do, will their health professional be ready for that conversation, or even initiate it? Where might that discussion go? Are there evidence-based treatments that could be considered?