Dr. Somi Javaid provides advice for sexual health care

Somi Javaid, MD, FACOG:

Hi, I am Dr. Somi Javaid, a board-certified OB-GYN and a menopause and sexual health care expert.

Contemporary OB/GYN:

So, what advice do you have for clinicians who have patients that are presenting with sexual health concerns?

Javaid:

I would really advise providers to get trained in sexual health care. There's a great place ISSWSH, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, where you can get trained if you did not get that training. And if you don't have the time or the desire, then please, at least refer your patient to someone who does specialize in sexual health care, or who has had adequate training. Do not minimize the problem because you feel as though it won't kill your patient, or it's not important to you. And the other thing is, one of my colleagues said this, and I think it's pretty profound, but when you dress with the white coat, you undress your own biases, and so really, allowing that patient to be comfortable, not shutting them down, empowering them, giving them education, and if you don't want to take care of them because you don't have the right skill set, put them into the hands of someone who will.

Contemporary OB/GYN:

We’re just about ready to wrap up, but there anything you want to add first?

Javaid

Yes. I think testosterone is going to be an upcoming hot button topic. There are multiple medical guidelines that support the use of testosterone, particularly for sexual health care, and there was a large study on vibrators as well that help support pelvic floor health and sexual health care, and I think we need to look at those as tools rather than toys. And so, I think the bottom line is, there are multiple treatment options out there despite the gender disparity, so we really don't want people to give up or stop seeking solutions.

This video is part 3 of a 3-part series. Click here for part 1 and here for part 2.