abstract
Background: Sexuality is a significant factor in every person's joy of life and has an intrinsic value throughout life. People with mental illness have for various reasons poorer sexual health than the rest of the population. In psychiatric care, a large number of drugs are prescribed that produce sexual side effects, but information and follow-up of issues related to sexuality are not taken into account. Hence, it is important to highlight persons' experiences of sexual side effects and their importance for a good life. Aim: The aim was to describe persons' experiences of the impact of sexual side effects on life caused by drug treatment in psychiatric outpatient care. Method: A qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach based on 10 semi-structured interviews. Results: The results are presented based on three categories and seven subcategories. The categories to lose a piece of life, to have to find your own strategies for enduring and to be left alone with their uncertainty emphasized various aspects of how life is affected by living with sexual side effects. Conclusion: Nurses in psychiatric care need to become aware of the importance of sexual side effects and their impact on sexuality and recovery. There is a need for increased competence about sexual health in the psychiatric context and a greater influence in the education of nurses. Persons would benefit from treating sexual side effects where the whole person is made visible based on unique needs. Persons' experiences of sexual side effects need to be made visible to enable a good and equal care on same terms for the entire population. It would reduce stigma and generate increased value in society for people with mental illness.
Keywords: Caring science, experiences, qualitative method, sexuality