Sexual Problems
Minor worries or concerns about sex are a very pervasive problem and so are real sexual problems. People often put up with sexual problems for many years or never seek help due to embarrassment or feeling of failure. This is unfortunate because many people can be helped to overcome such problems.
Painful intercourse or vaginismus - spasm of he muscles around the vagina.
Anorgasmia (an inability to reach orgasm, although not everybody can be expected to reach orgasm each time they have sex)
- Lack of sexual skills
- Failure of erection (impotence)
- Premature ejaculation
- Failure of ejaculation
- Principles of treatment
Cognitive behavioural psychotherapists must rule out sexual problems that are secondary to other causes. This is because reduced sexual interest or performance can occur with depression, diabetes, drug & alcohol abuse or be a side effective of some times of medication. Your therapist will ask you about each of these areas and may ask you to see your GP for assessment to check that everything is as it should be physically.
The mainstay of treatment for sexual difficulties is graded practice to help people to overcome their sexual problems very much in the same way as other anxieties. But in addition to overcoming fears couples also need to learn how to have enjoyable sex, this will take time to develop but with couples willing to work at overcoming their problems this is usually effective. Specific techniques are also available to help each of the problems listed above. Your therapist will outline which techniques they think might best help you and explain how you might put these into practice. To get started reading a reputable book about sex, which includes pictures of the genitals and people having sexual intercourse in different positions. Reading this book with your partner and discussing your problems in light of what you have learned can be a useful starting point for many couples.
