Erectile Dysfunction in Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Erectile dysfunction (ED) seems to be a widespread sexual issue in men affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Multiple causes appear to be involved such as hormonal imbalance, smoking habit, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, chronic hypoxia, psychiatric disorders (depression and anxiety), and medications. ED can have a significant impact on COPD men and consequently on their quality of life, which is usually already compromised. Given this situation, however, pneumologists usually do not properly care for the sexuality of COPD patients especially because men can be reluctant to talk about their intimate issues. The aim of this narrative review is to briefly summarize the evidence emerging from literature and to provide a wide point of view about sexual dysfunction in COPD men.

Therapist Values: Assessing and Treating Traditional and Nontraditional Relationships

A common mental health assumption exists that all clinicians should be able to treat all problems and all clients. An unspoken belief among many clinicians is that nontraditional sexual preferences and feelings are driven by psychopathology. In contrast, in order to provide high-quality clinical treatment, a positive sexual health model advocates that the clinician exhibits interest in the client’s sexual issue, be trained and competent with the presenting problem, and provide therapy congruent with the clinician’s personal and professional values. Nontraditional clients and couples deserve that sexuality plays a positive role in their lives and relationship. Although the clinician needs to assess for psychopathology, it is crucial that the therapist not assume that nontraditional sexuality is motivated by psychopathology. All clients/couples deserve to be treated empathically and respectfully and receive high-quality mental health and sex therapy services.

Older Women’s Sexual Desire Problems: Biopsychosocial Factors Impacting Them and Barriers to Their Clinical Assessment

Sexual desire is a major component of sexuality at any age, and inhibited desire is one of the main sexual dysfunctions reported by older women. Nonetheless, in medical settings, for a variety of reasons discussed herein, its assessment—as well as the assessment of older women’s sexual health in general—is typically avoided or conducted by asking a single sex question. In this paper, we have reviewed the literature (most of which is preliminary in nature) regarding the main psychosocial and health factors that could impact older women’s sexual desire, as well as potential obstacles to the assessment and treatment of this geriatric sexual issue. It is certainly advisable that medical care providers who are uncomfortable discussing older women’s sexual concerns be prepared to make appropriate referrals to clinicians who possess the proper training to accurately assess and treat sexual challenges (and female sexual interest problems in particular) in this neglected patient population.