Despite being integral to our lives, sex has not seen serious therapeutic inquiry before the 60’s, hushed by cultural taboo. Only iin the late 40’s the Kinsey report started cataloguing sexual activity of male and female Americans. Its findings, largely devoid of analysis, were enough to cause a stir (psychological community and public alike). Its methodology was questioned if at least for the finding that females seemed to have less sex than males. Whatever its flaws, the Kinsey report was a watershed event in sexology, interviewing 5’300 males and 6’000 females who had to inform their socio-demographics further contributing to sociology, psychology and modern culture/philosophy. In the late 50’s Masters and Johnson at Washington Uni. investigated sexual function/dysfunction. Their seminal books “Sexual behavior in the human female” (and male) were another watershed event, laying the foundation of modern sexual therapy.
Sexual therapy and sexual dysfunction.
Sexuality is many things: Biology hormones genetics and social, psychological cultural. The most common dysfunction is sexual impotence (male or female), with inability to feel pleasure, vaginal dryness, vaginal stiffness or pain, low libido, asexuality, hypersexuality, etc. The most common causes are psychological not biological, especially in younger patients. Sustaining erections or proper lubrication happens mostly in the brain. And beyond performance sexology also addresses related existential issues: Being non-monogamous. Being asexual. Being gay in an unsupportive environment. Being in love with someone you do not desire. Being in love with someone you cannot make love to. The profiles and issues are endlessly varied and all aspects of a patient’s life must be gently investigated.
If the root cause lies in biology, a referral to your GP is enough to investigate. Common biological causes include arthritis, chronic pain, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, substance abuse, medication, depression and strokes.
If the root cause lies in psychology, mindfulness, talk therapy and CBT are effective as well as a growing body of research on “widening inclusion”. The APA leads research in this field to make sexology a more holistic field, representative of the real-world. Sexual beings are considered not just “traditional” cis-gender, white, heterosexual, affluent idealised couple, ideally faithful. But rather include gay, LGBTQ+, transgender, minority lenses, as well as polyamorous or nonmonogamous relations. The aim is simply to think more intelligently about sex. How does it define us or not? What power relations may guide your sexual life? What is sexual health at all? The aim is not to agitate a cultural or political agenda but to look at sexuality for what it is, varied and changing in the real world. Ready for interpretation and meaning, for dispassionate discourse and personal growth rather than shame and denial.
Symptoms & Treatments
- Personalised diagnostic: Sexual profile, history, issues, preferences, taboos, risky sex behaviors, consent, performance, unrealistic imagery, unrealistic performance, existential issues, trauma.
- Symptoms and Indications: Erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness and stiffness, asexuality, hypersexuality, sex addiction, non-binary, sexual abuse and trauma, intimacy issues.
- Resources & Related: Couple’s perspective, psychosexual, psychoanalytical, sexology.