(630) Why is There Medical Resistance to Taking a Sexual History?

Introduction Limited medical training in human sexuality (shaped by cultural taboos and historical influences) restricts the clinical management of sexual dysfunctions, despite their significant social and health impact. Objective The objective is to promote the routine implementation of sexual history taking in clinical practice through an analysis of medical and sexological literature, supplemented with clinical data. Methods A comprehensive literature review and clinical data analysis were conducted using information obtained from two medical centers. Medical and sexological literature were included to contextualize the frequency of missed diagnoses related to the lack of a documented sexual history. Results The literature review and clinical experience show that more than 25 treatable diagnoses often go undetected in standard medical practice due to the absence of sexual history taking. Incorporating this tool systematically enables healthcare professionals to improve clinical outcomes, prevent misdiagnoses, and promote comprehensive patient well-being. The burden of undiagnosed sexual health conditions disproportionately affects women from marginalized communities. Conclusions Sexual history taking should be a standard component of clinical practice. Its inclusion not only enhances diagnosis and treatment but also represents a major advancement in public health. It is essential that formal medical education integrates sexual health as a core curricular element to transform population-level health outcomes. Disclosure No