A basic approach to the sexual history is presented here. It should be augmented with questions related to psychological health and special risk groups when appropriate. It is assumed that a basic reproductive history has also been obtained. See page 18 of Barbara Bates'A Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, Sixth Edition.
| Setting the Stage | Get permission to ask questions in this potentially sensitive area: I'd like to ask you some questions about your sex life. I don't mean to embarrass you and it's okay if you'd rather not answer some of them. May I begin? |
|---|---|
| Sexual Activity | Are you sexually active? Have you had sex in the past few months? Have you ever been sexually active? If "no" skip to concerns. |
| Sexual Orientation | Do/Did you have sex with males, females or both? |
| Number of Partners | How many sexual partners do/did you have? How long have you been with your current partner? Quantify the number and gender of sexual partners over the past few months or years. |
| Types of Sexual Activity | Do/did you have vaginal/anal/oral sex? If "anal" or "oral" ask: Do you give it or recieve it or both? |
| Pregnancy/Contraception | Do you desire to become (make your partner) pregnant? Is it possible that you are (she is) pregnant now? What are you doing to prevent pregnancy? |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) |
If male ask: Do you have a discharge from your penis or pain on urination? Any sores or lumps? If female ask: Do you have a vaginal discharge, itching, or pain on urination? Any sores or lumps? Have you or any of your partners ever been treated for a sexually transmitted disease? Which one? How long ago? Do you or any of your partners have risk factors for HIV/AIDS: blood transfusions, IV drug use, frequent sex with multiple partners/strangers, sex for money or drugs? |
| Protection from STDs | Do/did you use a condom or other protection when you have/had sex? If "no" ask: Why not? Do you ever have sex without protection? How recently? |
| Violence and Abuse | Have you ever been hurt or abused by your partner? Have you ever been raped? If "yes" assess the situation. |
| Satisfaction | Is sex satisfying for you? If "no" ask: Why not? |
| Sexual Concerns | Do you have any problems with or concerns about your sexual function? |