Practices and attitudes of Israeli obstetrician-gynecologists regarding female sexual health: results from a national survey.

Background: Sexual health is an often-overlooked component of clinical care that has significant implications for patients' quality of life. Aim: To evaluate the practices, attitudes, and barriers faced by Israeli obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) in addressing female sexual health, and to identify factors that influence engagement. Methods: During April-December 2024, a cross-sectional survey was conducted that assessed Israeli OB-GYNs' socio-demographics, frequency of initiating discussions, perceived training adequacy, and barriers to addressing sexual health. Outcomes: The primary outcomes were the frequency of initiating discussions on sexual health and the perceived adequacy of training in addressing sexual dysfunction. Results: Among 504 participants, 19.1% routinely initiated discussions on sexual health, while 45.8% rarely did. Female compared to male OB-GYNs ( Clinical implications: Significant gaps in the training and practices of Israeli OB-GYNs underscore the need for enhanced education tailored to address cultural and demographic factors. Strengths and limitations: The large, diverse sample provides valuable insights. However, the self-reported data may have introduced bias, and the cultural diversity may limit generalizability. Conclusion: Substantial gaps were reported in the training and practices of Israeli OB-GYNs regarding female sexual health. These findings underscore the need for enhanced education and structured training programs, tailored also to address cultural and demographic factors, to improve patient care.