Ask Your Gynecologist: A Sexual Health Checklist

Why bring a written list to your gynecologist?

A written list protects the conversation you actually came for. Visits are short, and it is easy to leave without raising the sensitive topic, especially about sex, which many people find awkward to start. Keeping your priorities visible on paper makes the difference between mentioning a concern and running out of time.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, discussing sexual health is a recommended part of the well-woman visit, and clinicians are trained to ask 2Ref 2American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2018).ACOG Committee Opinion No. 755: Well-Woman Visit.Discussion of sexual function and sexual health is a recommended component of the well-woman visit, which clinicians are expected to address.. About 1 in 8 women, roughly 12%, have a sexual concern distressing enough to want help, yet many never raise it 1Ref 1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2019).Female Sexual Dysfunction: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 213.Roughly 40% of women report a sexual concern and about 12% report a distressing one; desire, pain, and arousal problems have multiple contributors and several evidence-based treatment paths.. Writing your questions down, and handing the list over if speaking feels hard, makes the first move easier.

What should you ask about low desire or arousal?

Low desire is the most common sexual concern women raise, and it usually has more than one cause. Helpful questions include whether medications, stress, relationship factors, sleep, or hormones might be contributing, and what separates a low libido from a distressing one. It is also fair to ask how low desire within a relationship is evaluated.

Desire naturally shifts across life stages, after adolescence, during pregnancy and the postpartum months, and through the menopausal transition 1Ref 1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2019).Female Sexual Dysfunction: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 213.Roughly 40% of women report a sexual concern and about 12% report a distressing one; desire, pain, and arousal problems have multiple contributors and several evidence-based treatment paths.. Antidepressants are a frequent and often overlooked contributor, so asking about medication effects on sex drive can be worthwhile. If hormones are involved, you might ask whether testosterone or other options have evidence behind them for your situation 1Ref 1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2019).Female Sexual Dysfunction: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 213.Roughly 40% of women report a sexual concern and about 12% report a distressing one; desire, pain, and arousal problems have multiple contributors and several evidence-based treatment paths..

How do you bring up pain or dryness during sex?

Pain and dryness are common, treatable, and worth naming precisely. Clinicians find it useful to know when the pain occurs, at entry, deeper, or afterward, and whether dryness is new, cyclical, or constant. Describing the pattern helps narrow the cause, from vaginal dryness after menopause to infection, skin conditions, or pelvic-floor tension.

The North American Menopause Society notes that genitourinary symptoms, including dryness, burning, and pain with sex, affect between roughly 27% and 84% of women after menopause and tend to persist without treatment 3Ref 3The North American Menopause Society (Menopause Society) (2020).The 2020 genitourinary syndrome of menopause position statement of The North American Menopause Society.Genitourinary symptoms of menopause, including dryness and pain with sex, affect roughly 27% to 84% of women after menopause and persist without treatment; vaginal moisturizers and local estrogen are options.. Useful questions include whether an exam or swab is needed, whether a vaginal moisturizer or local estrogen might help, and whether hormone therapy is an option for you 3Ref 3The North American Menopause Society (Menopause Society) (2020).The 2020 genitourinary syndrome of menopause position statement of The North American Menopause Society.Genitourinary symptoms of menopause, including dryness and pain with sex, affect roughly 27% to 84% of women after menopause and persist without treatment; vaginal moisturizers and local estrogen are options..

What questions help you compare treatment options?

Understanding your options makes a plan easier to follow. Fair questions include what the likely cause is, which treatments have the strongest evidence, how long each takes to work, and what the trade-offs are. Asking what happens if the first approach does not help keeps you from feeling stuck later.

Knowing what falls within a gynecologist's scope, versus when a referral to pelvic-floor physical therapy, a sex therapist, or a menopause specialist makes sense, keeps you from bouncing between visits. Nearly 40% of women report a sexual concern at some point, and most have several reasonable paths forward 1Ref 1American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2019).Female Sexual Dysfunction: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 213.Roughly 40% of women report a sexual concern and about 12% report a distressing one; desire, pain, and arousal problems have multiple contributors and several evidence-based treatment paths.. Bringing your list, and a pen to note the answers, turns a rushed visit into a plan you can act on.

When sexual concerns need a gynecologist

Sexual concerns that persist, cause distress, or come with pain, bleeding, or unusual discharge deserve a dedicated visit rather than a rushed aside. A gynecologist or women's health clinician can examine, test where needed, and match treatment to the cause, then refer to pelvic-floor therapy or a menopause specialist when that fits. Preparing questions in advance, and deciding your top priority before you arrive, makes the visit far more useful. Gale can help you turn your concerns into a clear, shareable list to bring along.