Sexual Function in Serious Illness: Areej El-Jawahri, Sharon Bober, and Don Dizon

Sexual Function in Serious Illness: Areej El-Jawahri, Sharon Bober, and Don Dizon

Author: Alex Smith, Eric Widera June 6, 2024 Duration: 51:47
GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
HealthHealth & FitnessFitnessLifeMedicineScience

As Eric notes at the end of today's podcast, we talk about many difficult issues with our patients.  How long they might have to live. Their declining cognitive abilities. What makes their lives meaningful, brings them joy, a sense of purpose.  But one issue we're not as good at discussing with our patients is sexual health.

On today's podcast Areej El-Jawahri, oncologist specializing in blood cancers at MGH, says that sexual health is one of the top if not the top issue among cancer survivors.  Clearly this issue is important to patients.  Sharon Bober, clinical psychologist at DFCI, notes that clinicians can get caught in an anxiety cycle, in which they are afraid to ask, don't ask, then have increased anxiety about not asking.  Like any other conversation, you have to start, and through experience learn what language is comfortable for you.  Don Dizon, oncologist specializing in pelvic malignancies at Brown, suggests speaking in plain language, starting by normalizing sexual health issues, to paraphrase, "Many of my patients experience issues with intimacy and sexual health. Is that an issue for you? I'm happy to talk about it at any time."  All guests agree that clinicians feel they need to have something they can do if they open Pandora's box.  To that end, we talk about practical advice, including:

  • The importance of intimacy over and above physical sexual function for many patients

  • Common causes and differential diagnoses of sexual concerns in patients with cancer and survivors

  • Treatments for erectile dysfunction - first time the words "cock ring" have been uttered on the GeriPal Podcast - and discuss daily phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor therapy vs prn

  • The importance of a pelvic exam for women experiencing pain

  • What is "pelvic physical therapy?"

  • Treatments for vaginal dryness and atrophy

  • ACS links, NCCN links, Cancersexnetwork, and a great handout that Areej created

And I get to sing Lady Gaga, also a first for GeriPal!  And let me tell you, there's nothing like the first time (sorry, I couldn't help it!).




Hosted by UCSF physicians Alex Smith and Eric Widera, GeriPal-A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast creates a vital space for conversation at the intersection of aging and serious illness care. This isn't a dry lecture series; it's a dynamic dialogue where Eric and Alex bring on leading experts to unpack the complexities of geriatric and palliative medicine. They delve into the latest research that should change practice, tackle the ethical dilemmas that provoke debate, and explore the nuanced clinical challenges that professionals face daily. The tone is engaging and often surprisingly lighthearted, with moments of humor and even the occasional song, making profound topics more accessible. Whether you're a clinician, nurse, social worker, or any professional dedicated to this field, this podcast offers a blend of evidence-based insights and practical wisdom you can use. It’s a resource that acknowledges the weight of the work while fostering connection and continued learning. For those seeking formal education credits, AMA PRA Category 1 CME and MOC credit are also available through the show. Tune in to join a community committed to improving care for older adults and those with serious illness.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
youtubetiktokspotify
GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
What instead? Alternatives to Beers: Todd Semla and Mike Steinman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:38
On a prior podcast we talked with Todd Semla and Mike Steinman about the update to the AGS Beers Criteria of potentially inappropriate medications in older adults (Todd and Mike co-chair the AGS Beers Criteria Panel). On…
We Need a Care Revolution: Victor Montori [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:41
In his book, "Why We Revolt," Victor Montori decries the industrialization of healthcare. We've become a healthcare factory, beholden to health systems motivated by profit. In particular, he laments the loss of the "care…
Death Anxiety: Dani Chammas & Keri Brenner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:23
What is death anxiety? We spend the first 15 minutes of the podcast addressing this question. And maybe this was unfair to our guests, the fabulous dynamic duo of palliative psychiatrists Dani Chammas and Keri Brenner (l…
Health and Wealth Shocks: Lauren Hunt, Rebecca Rodin, Tsai-Chin Cho [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:35
June Lunney famously characterized the end of life functional course of people with dementia as a slow dwindle over time. Tom Gill later found that people with dementia do indeed have persistent severe disability through…

«12345678...10»