Program for Sexual Medicine

Roughly 40% of women have a physical, medical, hormonal or emotional issue that interferes with intercourse or other sexual activities.

This is a topic that is rarely broached in a physician’s office. Even when it is discussed, many times women are not offered solutions, even though sex is an important part of physical and emotional well-being.

While cultural factors, religious beliefs, social issues, general health and age all influence the frequency and ability to have sexual activity and a normal sexual response, medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease or neurologic problems are often the precipitating problem or complicate an existing problem.

If you’re looking to regain your sex life, start with the Northwestern Medicine Program for Sexual Medicine. Top experts in sexual health, including physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, certified sex psychotherapists and pelvic floor physical therapists will collaborate to address your individual and comprehensive sexual health needs.
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Our clinicians will evaluate your needs and individualize a program to help get you back to peak sexual health and pleasure. We treat people of all gender identities, expression and sexual orientation.

Conditions and Procedures

Conditions and procedures include (but are not limited to) the following:
 
Conditions:

• Cancer-related sexual concerns (chemotherapy, surgery, radiation)
• Contraception-induced sexual pain or loss of libido
• Decreased libido
• Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)    
• Hereditary genetic mutations (BRCA, Lynch)
• Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
• Impaired arousal
• Inability to have intercourse
• Issues after hysterectomy or ovary removal
• Lichen sclerosus
• Menopause
• Orgasmic disorders, including anorgasmia (inability to orgasm)
• Painful intercourse
• Pelvic pain during intercourse
• Persistent genital arousal syndrome
• Pudendal neuralgia
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sexual problems associated with such medical conditions as heart disease, diabetes, incontinence and neurologic disease
• Vaginal atrophy (dryness)
• Vaginismus
• Vestibulodynia
• Vulvar disorders
• Vulvar graft vs host disease
• Vulvar vestibulitis
• Vulvodynia

Treatments may include: 

• Hormonal options
  
• ​Non-hormonal options
  
• Alternative and “off-label” treatments
  
• Pelvic floor physical therapy
  
• Talk therapy (Our therapists are specifically trained in sexual concerns, past history of trauma, pain, and relationship therapy)

To request an appointment, fill out our online form on the Contact Us page. A coordinator will contact you to schedule an appointment and send you a questionnaire. This questionnaire must be filled out and returned before your first visit so that it may be reviewed by our clinical staff. If you are arriving from out of town, our coordinator can also connect you to the hospital concierge for information about hotel accommodations.

​For more information, please call 312.694.9676.

IS THIS NORMAL? OB/GYN EDITION

​OB/GYNs are familiar with the awkward asks. Lauren Streicher, MD, shares the questions she’s asked most on hot flashes, incontinence and painful sex.

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Request an Appointment

To request an appointment, fill out the form on the Contact Us page or call 312.694.9676 for more information. 

REQUEST APPOINTMENT