If these days rolling over and catching zzz’s sounds better than initiating intimacy with your partner, you’re not alone. More than 30% of men and 43% of women report problems with their sexual relationship at some stage in their life together.

A number of factors can compromise sexual health, ranging from physical limitations and discomfort, to diet and exercise, medications, stress or psychological blocks. Many times problems result from a combination of factors. That’s why it is important not to place blame on yourself or your partner, but to look at this as an opportunity to solve the problems and grow closer.

Some of the most common issues for women include a lack of sexual desire and arousal, problems having orgasms, and discomfort or pain with sex. For men, the most common issues are inability to achieve or maintain an erection, and premature ejaculation.

While some people panic and turn to a quick remedy offered on the Internet for help, it’s best to not try and self-diagnose, as you may be overlooking an important underlying medical condition. Sexual dysfunction can be a symptom of an underlying health problem or disease process. Medications, depression, and poorly controlled medical problems like diabetes and high blood pressure can often lead to male and female sexual function problems. Self-diagnosis or remedies offered on the Internet may not address important concerns, which your family practice doctor can help you address.

Most of the time, your family practice doctor can help with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and often can help you understand or get help with sex drive (libido) and difficulty with orgasms.

“We are very comfortable talking about sexual concerns, and it really helps when our patients bring this up as a primary concern at a visit. Often, probably because of embarrassment, patients bring up these concerns at the very end of a visit,” explains Dr. Edward Pullen. To get a good history and work through decision-making with a patient requires a visit focused on this concern alone.”

If your doctor decides you or your mate would benefit from a referral, he or she will recommend an appropriate specialist for further treatment, which could be a urologist, ob-gyn, or visiting a sexual function clinic.

One such state-of-the-art clinic is Virginia Mason’s Sexual Health Center. “Most couples are relieved when they discover how widespread sexual problems are, and are glad to receive the facts,” says Ksenija Stefanovic, MD, PhD, a medical urologist at Virginia Mason. “We offer a wide range of ways to help, from counseling to minimally invasive treatments.”

To discuss any sexual health or function issues with your Sound Family Medicine doctor, call 253-848-5951 and tell the receptionist you’d like to schedule an appointment. If you don’t feel comfortable telling her the nature of the problem, simply state that it is a personal issue. Or visit www.soundfamilymedicine.com, and login to mySFM to schedule a visit.

It’s important to remember that a healthy sexual relationship contributes to your overall physical and psychological health, as well as closeness to your mate. There’s no need to suffer a less than satisfying sex life any longer.