- Sexual function
A model defining different aspects of sexual function relevant for the assessment of
sexual dysfunction developed at theKarolinska Institute inStockholm ,Sweden , comprises the following components [cite book|last=Helgason|first=Asgeir|authorlink=Asgeir Helgason|title =Prostate Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life – a Three Level Epidemiological Approach] : First, relevant aspects of sexual function are defined on the basis of a modified version ofMasters and Johnson ’s pioneer work. [cite book |last= Masters |first= William |authorlink= Masters and Johnson| coauthors=Virginia E. Johnson|title=Human Sexual Response| publisher=Little, Brown & Co.|1966] [cite book |last= Masters |first= William |authorlink= Masters and Johnson |title=Human Sexual Inadequacy|coauthors=Virginia E. Johnson| publisher=Little, Brown & Co.|year1970] The aspects of sexual function defined as being relevant to the assessment includesexual desire ,erection ,orgasm andejaculation . Secondly, guidelines for assessing sexual function are suggested and divided into four stages."Stage 1" deals with the documentation of the defined aspects of sexual function. The main questions are: • Is the function intact? For example: Have there been any occurrences of erections or orgasms during a given period of time? • If the function is intact, what is the frequency and/or intensity of the function? For example: How often has the person had an orgasm or erections during the given period of time and how intense is the
orgasmic pleasure anderection stiffness compared to youth or the best period in life. The suggested explanations for the absence or waning of functions at this stage are physiological and psychological."Stage 2" deals with the assessment of the frequency of different sexual activities, such as intercourse, within a given time frame. The possible explanations for an absence or a decreased frequency of sexual activities may include physiological,
psychological , social,religious andethical reasons."Stage 3" it is estimated if or to what extent waning sexual functions and/or activities cause distress.
"Stage 4", the association between the distress due to waning sexual function and
well-being andemotional isolation is assessed.These
guidelines were constructed to assess male sexual function [Helgason ÁR, Adolfsson J, Dickman P, Arver S, Fredrikson M, Göthberg M, Steineck G. [http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/4/285 Sexual desire, erection, orgasm and ejaculatory functions and their importance to elderly Swedish men: A population-based study.] Age and Ageing. 1996:25:285-291.] in relation with treatment forprostate cancer . However, the concept has been modified and adapted for females. [Bergmark K, Avall-Lundkvist E, Dickman PW, Henningsohn L, Steineck G. Vaginal changes and sexuality in woman with a history of cervical cancer. N Engl J Med. 1999: 304 (18):1383-9.]References
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