Sexual Health Medicine Jobs
Sexual Health Physicians assess, diagnose, manage, treat and prevent sexual health disorders and provide education, counselling, and other services which promote healthy sexual relationships and help to improve the sexual health of individuals, couples, communities and populations. They gather patient histories and conduct physical examinations and other investigations, such as pathology or microbial screenings/tests for a range of viral/bacterial/fungal STIs, HIV and blood-borne viruses, as well as upper genital tract and non-infectious conditions like dermatitis or tumours. They provide clinical management and psychosocial support for patients who have conditions or concerns regarding sexuality, sexual function/dysfunction, reproductive health (including contraception or fertility), or who are victims of sexual assault. Treatment and management options include sexual health education and counselling, pharmacology to help manage symptoms and treat STIs, contact tracing/partner notification to reduce spread of infection, prescription of suitable contraceptives, and referrals for abortion, sterilisation and specialist care. Their role often extends into community practice and education, public health, and law and ethics. To pursue a career as a Sexual Health Physician, registered doctors who have completed RACP Basic Training in Adult Internal Medicine (or attained Fellowship for a different medical specialisation), can apply to undertake Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine, a 3-year RACP program which leads to Fellowship and Specialist Registration with AHPRA.
Registrars (Internal Medicine - Sexual health Medicine) are registered doctors who have completed their medical degree and pre-vocational training (internship and residency/PGY2-3). They have attained general registration with AHPRA and can now undertake specialist/or vocational training positions to broaden and refine their scope of practice and gain experience, skills and competency in their chosen area of medicine. Registrars are very important members of the integrated and multi-disciplinary health care team. They have increasing responsibility for patient care, oversee and support junior doctors and staff, participate in professional development activities and continue to receive important guidance, training, and support from senior staff. They work in a range of primary, secondary, tertiary, clinical, laboratory and acute care settings, in hospitals, private practices and community clinics. Registered doctors at this level can further their career as Hospital Doctors or Career Medical Officers or pursue a medical specialty with further training and specialist registration. Registrars who want to pursue a career in Sexual Health Medicine can undertake advanced training with RACP.