| Many people experience
sexual difficulties at some point during their life, sometimes
these problems will resolve themselves but if they don’t
then professional help may be required.
Sexual difficulties can occur early in an
individual’s life, develop suddenly after a previously
satisfying sex life or develop gradually. It is important
that physical factors are ruled out before hypnotherapy is
sought, so consulting your GP should be your first step.
Sexual difficulties are generally problems
that prevent the individual or couple from enjoying sex, and
make sex difficult.
The most common sexual problems for men are
erectile impotence and premature ejaculation, and for women,
failure to reach orgasm or vaginismus.
Sexual dysfunction disorders are usually categorised
into the following areas:
Sexual pain disorders
Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia is characterised by persistent
pain with sexual activity. This is usually during penetration
but can also occur during non-penetrative stimulation too.
Pain can be at the vaginal opening or deep inside and can
be extremely distressing, leading to a negative cycle of avoidance
of sexual activity, anorgasmia or ISD. Pain may be due to
pelvic flammatory disease, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis
or ovarian cysts (this list is not exhaustive and does not
include psychological causes). Some causes of dyspareunia
include sexual trauma, vuvlvovaginitis or inadequate lubrication.
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a condition affecting a women's
ability to engage in any form of vaginal penetration. Some
women’s symptoms are so severe that they may avoid any
sexual contact all together. Involuntary spasms of the vaginal
muscles interfere with penetration and vaginismus is quite
often the result of physical or sexual abuse. However other
causes include religious beliefs, relationship difficulties
or the fear of pregnancy.
Inhibited sexual desire (ISD)
Inhibited sexual desire (ISD) is the persistent
loss of desire for sexual activity. It is common for sexual
desire to fluctuate during an individuals life, however if
the problem persists it may be time to seek help. ISD is more
common in women than men, however it can affect men too. Decreased
sexual desire can be caused by depression, fatigue, stress,
pregnancy, aging, anxiety or relationship problems, however
it can also be caused by a decrease in estrogen or testosterone
levels. If testosterone deficiency is the cause of ISD, replacement
therapy is often recommended. If not, an appropriate specialist
is helpful to try and determine the underlying cause.
Anorgasmia
Anorgasmia is a condition characterised by
an absence or persistent delay of orgasm following a normal
sexual excitement phase. Individuals suffering from anorgasmia
often experience a strong sexual desire and adequate arousal
but are unable to achieve orgasm.
Premature ejaculation (PE)
Premature ejaculation is characterised by
a lack of voluntary control over ejaculation. Although most
men will experience this at least once during their life (often
during their first sexual experiences) they soon learn ejaculatory
control. Premature ejaculation is the most common sexual problem
for men and research suggests it affects approximately 25-40%
of males. The condition can be associated with performance
anxiety, depression, sexual repression and lack of confidence.
Sex therapists or psychologists can use a series of exercises
to enable men to gain ejaculatory control, most commonly the
so-called start-stop technique.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) / Impotence
Erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence)
is a condition characterised by the inability to develop or
maintain an erection. Occasional impotence is common and often
caused by stress or performance anxiety, however if the problem
persists, professional help may be required.
Treatment:
If you’re experiencing sexual difficulties
it is important to first contact your GP to rule out any physical
factors. Psychosexual therapy (PST) has proven success rates
and is often referred to by GPs and other medical professionals.
Sex therapists are trained counsellors who've
undertaken extra training in psychological and physical issues
related to sexual functioning and they are able to deal with
almost any sexual problems that are causing distress.
Hypnotherapy may also be beneficial for individuals
who want to release negative or limiting beliefs by identifying
the triggers that started them.
Learning how to manage and deal with them
may then be possible. Hypnoanalysis therefore, may help to
identify the root cause of the issue and deal with it.
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