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Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Epilepsy: Communication Strategies and Assessment Tools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Olga Fishman
Affiliation:
Dr. Fishman is neurology resident physician in the Department of Neurology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York. Dr. Ettinger is associate professor in the Department of Clinical Neurology at, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, and chief of the EEG Division and Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, and director of the Huntington Hospital Epilepsy Monitoring Program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Ms. Callanan is epilepsy nurse specialist at the Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in California.

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is common among patients with epilepsy, but many clinicians do not include inquiries about this aspect of the patient's health in their routine evaluations. This article presents approaches for taking a sexual history and for discussing sexual problems. The utility of standardized sexual dysfunction questionnaires is reviewed and the important elements of appropriate and effective counseling are highlighted.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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