Book: Sexual Medicine in Primary Care

Sexual Medicine in Primary Care

William L. Maurice

Mosby-Year Book, Inc, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr, St Louis, MO 63146 USA

1999/366 pp

Overall Rating

Good to excellent

Strengths

Medical and psychological aspects, and factors relevant to couples integrated in a case-based approach. Flow charts, book lists, and websites

Weaknesses

Layout mixing text, cases, and example interviews at times hard to read

Audience

Family physicians, residents (family, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, and psychiatry), medical students, and other health care professionals who manage sexual problems

With the release of sildenafil (Viagra), Dr Maurice, a well-respected Canadian authority on sexual medicine, has provided physicians with a timely reference on how to manage patients and their partners’ sexual concerns beyond merely prescribing pills for potency. This book integrates medical and psychological aspects, and factors relevant to couples in the up-to-date diagnosis and management of sexual difficulties.

Dr Maurice describes the common prevalence of sexual problems and why physicians and patients find it hard to discuss them. More importantly, using case examples and suggested interview questions, he offers solutions to those wanting to deal more directly with their patients’ sexual problems.

In exploring sexual problems, the author provides easy-to-follow flow charts that tie together different diagnostic issues, including medical and drug effects along with psychological and relationship factors. An appendix on medications lists drugs (both prescription and recreational) by sexual side effect. Book lists and websites for patients are also useful.

Dr Maurice makes a cogent argument for primary care physicians to find case examples of sexual problems in their practices. He offers suggestions on what to do once these cases are identified. Most useful is a section for each diagnosis on when to refer for expert consultation or to transfer care.

In combining well referenced text, case studies, and interview questions, Dr Maurice has created an excellent textbook that can function as both an introductory and advanced resource. Readers trying to find a “quick fix” for a particular clinical problem might get frustrated with the layout of the book. This book will, however, amply reward readers who want to learn how to integrate pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy.

I welcome this book and recommend it to all physicians who want to better help their patients deal with sexual concerns.

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