Human Sexuality & Sexual Health

Taking a sexual health history is a routine, non-judgmental part of comprehensive nursing assessment across the lifespan, not a topic to avoid or assume isn't relevant based on a patient's age, relationship status, or appearance — using open, direct, professional language (rather than euphemisms that can create confusion) and asking the same core questions of every patient helps normalize the conversation and reduces the chance of missing clinically relevant information, such as STI risk, contraceptive needs, or sexual dysfunction related to a medical condition or medication. Sexual orientation and gender identity are separate concepts from a patient's sexual behavior or anatomy, and assessment questions should avoid assuming either based on appearance, partner's gender, or documentation elsewhere in the chart — using a patient's stated name and pronouns, and asking rather than assuming, is both respectful care and clinically accurate care.