Sexual health for women can touch on a range of various, but significant issues such as cervical or breast cancer to simply enjoying a healthy sex life. This encourages the idea that regardless of sexual orientation, age, or culture, all women should be able to access knowledge on how to keep their bodies healthy and functioning. The significance lies in manifesting the freedom of women being able to understand their bodies so they can decide how (or how not to) express their sexuality. Along with that, sexual health for women also includes being content with themselves in order to identify the healthy and unhealthy relationships they can develop throughout their lives.

A gynecologist is a doctor that specializes in women’s reproductive health, while an obstetrician cares for a woman during her pregnancy and immediately following childbirth. An ob-gyn is equipped with knowledge to care for either situation; meaning they can address women’s health issues ranging from use of birth control, menopause, pelvic or urinary tract problems. The quality of a woman’s relationship with her ob-gyn is extremely important because it relies on communication of sensitive health issues in order for the physician to be able to appropriately advise the patient on matters of sexual health.

Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s department of Family Medicine determined the prevalence and type of sexual concerns among women seeking routine gynecological care. From the 964 responses of the 1480 surveys they sent out, results showed that 98.8% of women reported one or more sexual concerns. The most frequently reported were lack of interest at 87.2%, body image concerns at 68.5%, unmet sexual needs at 67.2%, and needing information about sexual issues at 63.4%. These are all concerns that effect women in every age category and signal the importance of sexual health within health care.

The above figures from the study also indicate concerns many older women develop during or well past their menopause stage. In order to properly address these women as well, many factors have to carefully be considered such as cultural settings where sexual expression in old age is frowned upon. Their sexuality as well, should not be left at the door when deciding how health services can assist these older women. This entails better training and understanding of the sexual needs within older age, along with more willingness to open a dialogue with these older patients who refrain from introducing the subject.

In their Sexual Health across the Lifecycle: A Practical Guide for Clinicians, Margaret Nusbaum and Jo Ann Rosenfeld mention the added benefit of clinicians learning more about their own background and growing more comfortable with the topic of sexuality to the sexual health promotions within their clinical practices. They also describe the importance of clinicians being aware of the times when they are most vulnerable and at risk for crossing or losing sight of professional boundaries. More research and guidance on how to manage delicate or complex issues surrounding older adults still needs to be developed in order to make it a regular discussion amongst this population. This can go a long way in constructing the comfortable setting these older adults need to appropriately release their inhibitions.