[Salutogenesis and sexual medicine].

Salutogenesis means a paradigmatic change in medicine. While pathogenesis restricts itself to finding out what makes a man ill, salutogenesis tries to find out what keeps him or her healthy. The human being is seen as a biological, psychological, and social creature. There are many studies which show the importance of social relationships and the satisfaction of basic psychosocial needs as protection against psychological or psychosomatic disorders. The psychosocial basic needs for acceptance, intimacy, and security can be best fulfilled by sexual communication with the partner. Therefore a salutogenic approach to sexual medicine focuses mainly on the fulfillment of these needs and not only on the treatment of a sexual dysfunction. Unnecessarily frustrating experiences can thus be avoided, especially when the sexual possibilities of one or both partners are restricted by an illness or its medical treatment. A case report shows how sexual communication and sex therapy can help to cope with a tumor disease.