Sexology is a field that deals with human sexuality in a broad sense, including sexual needs and disorders. It is interdisciplinary in nature, as it combines medicine and psychology, and sometimes also sociology and anthropology.
What problems should you go to a sexologist with?
It is worth seeing a sexologist in the case of:
- addiction to sex or pornography,
- problems with accepting one’s own sexual orientation or gender identity,
- problems with too low or excessive sex drive,
- psychological difficulties related to sex life, e.g. fear of intimacy or negative perception of one’s own body,
- physical dysfunctions, such as erectile dysfunction, pain during intercourse or inability to reach orgasm,
- lack of satisfaction with the previous sex life,
- the desire to better understand one’s own sexual needs.
What does a visit to a sexologist look like?
During the first meeting, the sexologist conducts an interview to understand the patient’s difficulties and set the goals of therapy. There may be questions about previous sexual experiences, fears and fears related to intimacy, and the presence of sexual trauma.
In addition, the sexologist asks about the state of health, and may also order tests, e.g. hormonal tests, to assess the extent to which the problems are dependent on the physical condition of the body.
Depending on the purpose of therapy, meetings with a sexologist can take place individually or together with a partner. Sexological therapy for couples is a process that helps to understand the causes of sexual difficulties present in a relationship, which makes it easier to find ways to solve them and improve the quality of intimate life of partners.
Psychotherapy of sexual disorders
Psychotherapy of sexual disorders is a form of therapy focused on recognizing and treating problems related to a person’s sex life. Specialists in this field provide assistance m.in. people struggling with sex addiction or fear of it, resulting from the experience of sexual violence.
Types of sexual disorders
Sexual disorders are divided into:
- Sexual dysfunctions – these are often repeated difficulties or inability to participate in sexual activity despite the person’s desires. There are dysfunctions related to the desire phase, the arousal phase, the orgasm phase and pain.
- Paraphilias – disorders of sexual preference, formerly called perversions or deviations. They consist of feeling a sexual urge towards “unusual” objects, actions or parts of the body. Examples include exhibitionism, sadism and pedophilia. Only those that concern a mature partner, take place with mutual consent, are a source of pleasure (not pain) and do not have a negative impact on health are considered to be correct sexual behaviors.
- Gender identification disorders – a desire to live in the role of the opposite sex that persists for at least two years, often related to the pursuit of gender reassignment, unless it results from a mental illness or genetic disorder.
What does psychotherapy for sexual disorders look like
The basis of treatment of sexual disorders is psychotherapy, but in some cases pharmacotherapy is also included. Physiotherapy can also be helpful in sexual dysfunctions, e.g. pelvic floor muscle exercises, and relaxation techniques. In order to achieve satisfactory results, it is important to properly understand the causes of the problem, which is helped by a sexologist.