Sexuality and Illness A Guidebook for Health Professionals

This evidence-based guide educates and informs health professionals about promoting sexual wellbeing in the context of challenges from physical and mental health. Sexuality is an important aspect of quality of life for many people but can be affected by a wide variety of health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, mental illness, menopause, diseases of ageing, neurological diseases and spinal cord injuries, combat injuries, and cancer. Building readers’ confidence in initiating and encouraging open communication on this often-neglected topic, Sexuality and Illness includes case studies that illustrate how to talk about sexuality and support patients with concerns about it. Making recommendations for practice and further reading, it takes into account gender, sexual, race and ethnic diversity. This accessible text demystifies a topic that is sometimes difficult to discuss. It is essential reading for healthcare practitioners interested in providing comprehensive and person-centred care.

1.Introduction 2.Our understanding of human sexuality in the 21st Century 3.Communicating about sexuality with patients 4.Sexuality across the lifespan from adolescence to old age 5.How medical conditions affect sexuality and sexual functioning 6.How mental illness affects sexuality 7.Trauma and sexual dysfunction 8.Disability and sexuality 9.Cancer in women 10.Cancer in men 11.Adolescents and young adults with cancer 12.Sexuality and infertility 13.Interventions to treat sexual dysfunction in men 14.Interventions to treat sexual dysfunction in women

Anne Katz practices as a sexuality counselor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She is the author of 13 books on sexuality in cancer and cancer survivorship. She is internationally known as an engaging speaker and educator and the host of "Sexually Speaking with Dr. Anne Katz" podcast.