Sexuality is an innate need like nutrition and sleep. Sexuality, which is an indispensable part of people's lives, is one of the most important factors that ensure happiness between spouses. People may experience problems related to sexuality due to some factors. Sexual problems, although sometimes short-term, often develop due to mental, emotional and psychological factors. In such cases, they can be treated with the support of expert psychiatrists or clinical psychologists.
Sexual intercourse is considered normal and healthy when couples are mutually happy and satisfied. For this to continue, people need to maintain physical and emotional intimacy. There may be some inhibiting factors that can cause problems in the relationship. These problems can be treated with sexual therapy.
What is Sexual Therapy?
Sexual therapy is a type of psychotherapy that can affect a person's sexual functions and sense of intimacy, and is therefore aimed at the individual's health problems and concerns. It is a treatment applied to individuals or couples by psychiatrists or clinical psychologists specialized in their field.
During the therapies, the person's experiences and partnerships with his/her partner, past sexual relationships and the continuity of the situation are evaluated; information about the medication used, if any, the disease and health status is learned. Afterwards, the onset time of these problems, how they started and the differences experienced are examined.
Physiological and Psychological Factors Affecting Sexual Problems
In order to determine the problems in sexual functions as a diagnosis, there must be continuity. The most common problem in men is premature ejaculation. However, the subject applied about the problems is mostly related to erectile dysfunction. The reason for this is that this problem interferes with sexual intercourse.
Mostly men under the age of 40 apply for psychological reasons, while men over the age of 40 apply for physiological reasons. The most common cause of women's inability to orgasm is the lack of knowledge of the man or woman about the subject. The reluctance seen in women is higher than in men.
It is important to determine whether sexual problems are physiologically related or not. Biologically, the causes of sexual problems can be problems such as heart diseases, vascular blockages, prostate problems, diabetes. Medication and medical treatments are applied for problems caused by medical or biological reasons.
Psychological Sexual Problems
Problems related to sexuality should not be attributed to just one event. One of the biggest factors in the emergence of these problems is emotions. A relationship that is far away from emotions leads to dissatisfaction in couples and then to a problem of trust. The more intense the emotions couples feel for each other, the more passionate the relationship becomes. Stress experienced outside of emotions and anxiety of not being satisfied can lead to such problems.
Other factors that are effective in the formation of problems can be listed as follows;
- Cultural factors
- Psychosocial factors
- Family attitude
- People's perspective on sexuality
- Traumas experienced by the person in the past
- Education level of the individual or spouses
- Communication problems between couples
Sexual Therapy Methods
Sexuality is a concept that is affected by physical and psychological factors, emotions and thoughts. For this reason, if there is no physiological reason for the emergence of sexual problems, studies are carried out to determine the source of the problem. Even if these problems arise from physiological factors, sexual therapies can be applied to reduce psychological factors and support people.
Among the methods used, psychotherapy techniques specific to individuals and couples are applied. The emotional states and anxieties experienced by individuals or couples are treated through communication. The goal in sexual problems is to have an impact on the individual's learning situation. By creating a suitable environment for the person in therapy, the person is encouraged to discover himself/herself and the relationship he/she is in.
Problems Treated in Sexual Therapy
Sexual therapy is the treatment applied to individuals or couples by psychiatrists or clinical psychologists specialized in their field. The problems treated with the methods applied in sexual therapy are as follows;
- Vaginismus
- Premature ejaculation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Sexual desire problems
- Arousal problems
- Orgasm problems