Along with expanding the sexual history, the importance of the physician's efforts to influence patient's behavior with regard to risky practices, and the need for confidentiality, this session will also consider sexuality and ethics and the ways Loyola's tradition as a Catholic medical center may influence the approach to patient care. The reason is that the patient's' sexual concerns are often an important part of a doctor-patient interaction. Patients may also seek advice on how to improve sexual relations with a partner. Discussions with patients about sexuality can be difficult for physicians. Others may not have taken the trouble to find a colleague to whom they can appropriately refer.
Some doctors can be just plain embarrassed talking frankly about sexual behavior.
Finally, many physicians find it difficult to deal with their own reactions to a patient's sexual behavior they find problematic or offensive. The impact of these diseases in terms of financial cost and human suffering have made STD prevention one of country's top public health priorities. The clinical strategies to prevent the spread of STDs can be classified by the stage of the illness they target. Primary Prevention strategies are intended to prevent infection. They are implemented before the infection occurs and involve reducing or eliminating risk factors.