Sexuality is an important aspect of existence and a fulfilling intimate life can be a facilitator of well-being, self-esteem, and general resilience. Moreover, it can strengthen coping, adherence, and survivorship skills of chronically ill patients. Health-care professionals should, therefore, routinely address issues of sex and intimacy.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Constructions of Sexual Identities in the Ageing Body: A Qualitative Exploration of Older Norwegian Adults’ Negotiation of Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction
Sexuality & Culture Open Access 18 February 2023
-
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome: a comprehensive update
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Open Access 20 August 2020
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
World Health Organization. Defining Sexual Health (WHO, 2006).
Antonovsky, A. Unravelling the Mystery of Health (Jossey Bass, 1987).
Bancroft, J. Human Sexuality and its Problems (Churchill Livingstone, 2009).
Whipple, B., Knowles, J. & Davis, J. The health benefits of sexual expression in Sexual Health: Psychological Foundations Vol. 1 (eds Tepper, M. & Owens, A.) 17–28 (Praeger, 2007).
Christensen, B. S. et al. Sexual dysfunctions and difficulties in Denmark: prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors. Arch. Sex. Behav. 40, 121–132 (2011).
De Berardis, G. et al. Erectile dysfunction and quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients: a serious problem too often overlooked. Diabetes Care 25, 284–291 (2002).
Katz, A. The sounds of silence: sexuality information for cancer patients. J. Clin. Oncol. 23, 238–241 (2005).
Annon, J. A. The Behavioral Treatment of Sexual Problems (Enabling Systems, 1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing financial interests.
PowerPoint slides
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Graugaard, C. Sexuality as a health-promoting factor — theoretical and clinical considerations. Nat Rev Urol 14, 577–578 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2017.117
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2017.117
This article is cited by
-
Pornography and sexual function in the post-pandemic period: a narrative review from psychological, psychiatric, and sexological perspectives
International Journal of Impotence Research (2024)
-
Constructions of Sexual Identities in the Ageing Body: A Qualitative Exploration of Older Norwegian Adults’ Negotiation of Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction
Sexuality & Culture (2023)
-
Problems related to sexuality are relevant but not addressed in rheumatology practice: results from a cross-sectional survey
Rheumatology International (2022)
-
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome: a comprehensive update
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2020)