Why all the questions about my sexual history?
The sexual history is a way for your providers to start a conversation about your overall sexual health and risks for STIs and the need for screening.
A couple of years ago, I wrote for Trillium Health and ACT Rochester about the sexual history in the context of overall sexual health. At that time, I wrote that an individual’s sexual history should be discussed in a sex-positive or sex-affirming manner, which regards all consensual sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable. Sex-positive encourages sexual pleasure and experimentation – and this approach calls for comprehensive, accurate sex education and safe sex as part of the experience.
A patient’s sexual behaviors may differ from the provider’s cultural and religious values, but the provider needs to develop strategies to open discussions that lead to complete sexual histories. Providers need to be aware that patients may be dealing with previous trauma, which may make it difficult for the person to discuss sexual situations.
Providers need several ways to invite you into the conversation about sexual history.
Providers and patients may have different ways of describing sexual activities, so instead of using the phrase “having sex,” providers may ask, “What body parts do you use for sex?”
Questions your provider asks about your sexual history are so they can promote sex-positive, safe-sex activities. Credit: Dr. William Valenti
Some examples of questions your provider may ask include:
Are you sexually active or have you been sexually active?
Do you have sex with men, women or both?
How many partners have you had in the previous 90 days or year?
What is the gender of your partners?
What kinds of sexual activities do you do?
What are you doing to avoid STIs, including HIV?
Do you talk to your partners about their status and testing history?
Your provider should be encouraging you to talk about concerns or questions that you have regarding your sexual health or sexual practices. Understanding a patient’s sexual history is the gateway to the provider helping you achieve good sexual health, which is part of your overall physical and emotional well-being.