(077) Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Seen in an Urban Sexual Medicine Clinic: A Community-Based Descriptive Analysis

Abstract Introduction Characterization of female sexual dysfunction has grown extensively in recent years. Despite the importance of these disorders, dedicated sexual medicine clinics remain underrepresented in practice and literature. Furthermore, sexual medicine is frequently practiced in concierge or cash-based models, which has the potential to exclude marginalized populations who are often disproportionately affected by sexual dysfunction. Insurance based care is challenging due to low reimbursement and historical misclassification of sexual health diagnoses which exacerbates health disparities in specialized care. Objective The current study aims to create a quantitative description of patients seen for sexual health consultation in an insurance-based system including medical history, gynecologic history, demographics, social history (including emphasis on trauma history), sexual dysfunction symptomatology, diagnoses and treatment. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients seen for sexual health consultation at an OB/GYN based sexual medicine clinic in Washington D.C. which works within the insurance model. Records were collected from January 2022–August 2025. A total of 240 patient charts were extracted, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize population characteristics including demographic and clinical data. Results Of the 240 patients included (mean age 39 years), 53% were from D.C., 22% from MD, 22% from VA, and 3% came from other states. Eighty-eight percent of patients used private insurance and 12% had medicare or medicaid. In regard to race, patients self identified as white (46%), black or african american (11%), asian (4%), hispanic or latino (9%), middle eastern or north african (1%), other (5%), and not specified (24%). The most common presenting complaints were pain (90%), desire (24%) arousal (21%), orgasm (20%), and others (13%). Fifty-eight percent of patients had a comorbid mental health diagnosis and 28% reported a history of trauma. Of the patients whose initial complaint included pain symptoms, 74% were assigned a diagnosis of hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction in addition to others, 47% had concurrent genitourinary symptoms, and 42% had concurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions Patients in this urban sexual medicine clinic presented with multidimensional complaints, but the majority of patients had pain at the time of consultation. While this clinic offers care for all types of sexual dysfunction, the predominance of pain complaints underscores the need for access to affordable and skilled care of vulvovaginal pain disorders. Of this sample size, the prevalence of trauma history and mental health concerns warrants continued emphasis on trauma informed care. Concurrent genitourinary and gastrointestinal symptoms highlight the need for integrated, patient centered approaches to sexual health management. Further research into the relationship between presenting complaints and subsequent diagnoses may be helpful to enhance understanding of pathophysiology of sexual dysfunction and continued care. Disclosure No.