Cardiologists should be talking to their patients about sex, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Cardiology Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals (ESC-CCNAP).
More than just answering questions about when, the risks and medication concerns, physicians should be tackling the “how to” information, the cardio experts said in a consensus statement published in the AHA’s journal Circulation and the European Heart Journal.
Recommendations included discussing recommended positions and how to be intimate without having intercourse. The suggested sexual counseling applies to heart attack, heart transplant, stroke, transplant and other cardio-related patients.
“There are many barriers or misconceptions that inhibit discussions about sex,” said Tiny Jaarsma, co-chair of the task force with ESC-CCNAP, in an AHA press release. “Some healthcare professionals may believe the patient does not want this information, but we have found it is easier for the healthcare provider to start the discussion than for the patient to bring up these issues.”
For tips on coding for cardiovascular-related counseling visits, turn to Cardiology Coder’s Pink Sheet.