Sexual assessment: research and clinical.

It has been well documented that most patients do not volunteer information about sexual problems, and that health care providers should incorporate at least a brief sexual assessment into routine health histories and medical evaluations. While not every nurse can be a sexual counselor, listening to concerns of patient and family, presenting factual information in a nonthreatening manner, managing noncomplex disease and treatment related symptoms, and providing appropriate referrals can be easily incorporated into routine care.