Principles of Diagnostics in Sexual Medicine

Abstract

Chapter 5 refers to principles of diagnostics in sexual medicine, advocating a dynamic, process orientated “diagnostic therapeutic circle”, calling for attentiveness of the therapist in terms of given facts, their significance for the patient/couple and on the level of observed partnership dynamics. In exploring sexual disorders, detailed information on sexual functions, preference structure and on partnership status revealing the emotional situation should be obtained from both partners, whenever possible. It is most important to scrutinize special circumstances possibly connected with a disorder (such as somatic findings, medications, addictions as well as situations like finding no partner at all). A separate paragraph deals with sexological expert assessments, taking a variety of issues into account, such as criminal responsibility and prognosis as well as law suits from family courts (for example in the case of a father allegedly having pedophilic inclinations and claiming child custody rights) or issues concerning transsexuality (for example the costs for sexual reassignment surgery).