Sexual
Health Medicine
Sexual health medicine has at last come of age. In 2004, the Royal Australasian
College of Physicians formed a Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine reflecting
the importance of the specialty in present day clinical medicine. However,
a textbook devoted to the discipline has been lacking until now.
This book
is designed for medical students, nurses, junior hospital doctors, general
practitioners, trainee sexual health physicians, and specialists in allied
fields, but other health practitioners will also find it useful. It covers
the breadth of sexual health medicine, including sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, comprehensively. But it is much more than
just a textbook about infections. It deals with the concept of sexual
health, human sexuality, sexual diversity, gay, lesbian and transgender
health, sexual assault, and sexual function. It recognises, as all practitioners
dealing with sexual health must, the importance of the public health aspects
of sexual health medicine, both in resource-rich and resource-poor settings.
It sets priorities and outlines international perspectives in STI control.
The great
attraction of this textbook is its up-to-the-minute relevance and its
holistic approach. The client with a sexual health problem is seen as
a whole person, rather than as just the owner of a set of mal-functioning
genitalia. The psycho-social contexts of sexual ill health are discussed
in depth and not just given passing recognition. The book does not shy
away from controversy and there will be much to keep the reader thoughtful
and stimulated while at the same time acquiring knowledge.
The authors
are all expert in their respective fields. While the majority are from
Australia or New Zealand, there are authors from South East Asia and the
United Kingdom, which gives the book a truly international flavour. The
editors are Australian sexual health physicians, but all three have varied
medical backgrounds. They are united in an enthusiasm for, and a commitment
to, sexual health medicine, and share a strong belief that sexual health
plays a vital but frequently overlooked part in overall health and well-being
both of individuals and the community.
This book fills a significant gap, but it also establishes a benchmark.
There is an underlying message here that the practice of sexual health
medicine must be evidence-based, scientific, and clinically sound, but
also must be characterised by acceptance, tolerance, good humour and empathy.
Bibliographic
details:
Published, April, 2005. 245 x 170mm. 540 pages.
Includes 42 full colour plates.
Paperback. ISBN: 0-9578617-8-8. $A95.00 rrp.