All women need to have the opportunity to discuss their concerns about changes to sexuality. This is regardless of their age, marital status, sexual orientation, cultural background or level of illness / disability.
It's also important not to make assumptions about someone's sexual activity and practices and to respect the choice of some women not to discuss sexuality.
- Appreciate the complexity of psychosexual issues for women and their partners.
- Use appropriate communication skills to elicit specific sexuality concerns of women and their partners.
- Conduct a basic psychosexual screening.
- Describe commonly used models of psychosexual assessment (PLISSIT and BETTER).
- Discuss common barriers that hinder adequate communication about psychosexual sequelae.
- Reflect on your own values, attitudes and barriers regarding sexuality and communication about sexual issues.
- Undertake a psychosexual assessment of a woman with gynaecological cancer that's non-judgmental, value-neutral and independent of personal attitudes and beliefs.
- Identify and appropriately refer women and their partners to services that address the psychosexual effects associated with gynaecological cancer and its treatment.