Teaching sex education and counseling for the primary physician.

Today's family physicians are being confronted by increasing numbers of patients who desire and need sex education and counseling. It is suggested that the family and primary physician can approach the multiple sex-related needs of the family by understanding the family life cycle and by using permission-giving, limited information, and specific suggestions with patients as needed and as appropriate. The experience of the University of Miami's Department of Family Medicine in teaching human sexuality to medical students, residents, and faculty of the medical center is cited to help other residency programs include sex counseling and sex education in the armamentarium of residents.