The Biopsychosocial Approach in Sexual Medicine Disorders

Sexuality is an important component of human life that can be experienced and expressed in various ways. The interplay of biological, psychological, and social elements has an impact on sexuality. Because sexuality is a multi-causal, multidimensional complex phenomenon, sexual health and dysfunction should be addressed through a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial framework. The biopsychosocial model (BPS) is a paradigm that allows a clinician to explore the cause of a condition or disease based on a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors, and if so, to guide the diagnosis, education, and treatment process using as much evidence-based information as possible. The main principles of the BPS model and the algorithm for the management of sexual dysfunction are discussed in this chapter. When it comes to rare sexual medicine disorders, where evidence and knowledge are scarce, using a BPS approach is a must, as it can lead to a better understanding of the factors at play and, at the very least, allow treatments to be tailored to the patient’s needs.