- The Importance of Psychiatry in Sexual Problems
While sexual problems between couples can sometimes be short-term temporary problems, sometimes they can be caused by congenital problems. Many factors affect sexual problems. However, the most important factor is considered to be psychological problems. For this reason, psychiatric practices have an important place in sexual problems. From the Department of Psychology at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Uz. psi. Arzu Beyribey gave information about the importance of psychiatry in sexual problems.
- What is Sex Therapy?
Sex therapy is a type of psychotherapy that can affect an individual’s sexual function, impulses and desire for intimacy, and therefore is applied by addressing the person’s mental health problems and emotional concerns. This therapy is a kind of cognitive behavioral treatment applied to individuals or couples with sexual problems by trained psychiatrists and clinical psychologists about sexual problems.
During the therapies, the masturbation experiences of the person, their partnered sexual relations, past sexual life characteristics, the continuity of sexual relations and the first sexual intercourse experience were evaluated; The drugs that the person is using, the diseases he has experienced in the past, and the general health status information are also obtained. Then, when and how the sexual problem started, how it changed, and the development of treatment attempts until then are examined.
- What are Physiological, Sociological and Psychological Factors in Sexual Problems?
Although occasional deterioration of sexual functions is not pathological, this picture must be continuous in order to diagnose the disease. Although the most common sexual problem is premature ejaculation with a rate of 40% in men, the most frequently consulted issue is erectile dysfunction, preventing sexual intercourse. In severe premature ejaculation disorders, for example 1 min. In cases of premature ejaculation, which lasts up to 30 minutes, a doctor is consulted at the request of the person’s partner.
Generally, men younger than 40 seek treatment for psychological reasons, while men over 40 seek treatment for premature ejaculation for physiological reasons. The role of lack of sexual knowledge in the occurrence of orgasm problems in women is high. While the rate of sexual reluctance is higher in women, the rate of consulting a doctor with the complaint of vaginismus is higher, again because it prevents sexual intercourse.
It is important to determine whether the sexual problem is primarily of physiological origin in order to exclude this possibility. Among the causes of biological sexual problems; Sexual function problems can be seen due to diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, prostate gland problems, diabetes, hormone problems. If it is due to a medical or biological reason, the treatment is planned with drugs or other medical treatments, and urology, gynecology and obstetrics experts support this issue.
Between 35 and 50 percent of people experience sexual problems at some point in their lives. Sexual problems can be primary or secondary. If the person is constantly facing the same problem since the beginning of his sexual life, the disorder is a primary disorder. If sexuality is impaired after being at a certain satisfaction, it is a secondary disorder. For example, while vaginismus is a primary disorder in our society, erectile dysfunction is usually a secondary disorder.
- Psychological Sexual Problems
In the formation of questions, cultural and psychosocial factors can accompany together, innate characteristics, growth conditions, family attitudes, family’s view of sexuality, past traumas, educational status, information learned in childhood, subconscious conflicts that occur in later periods, psychosexual development period in developmental periods. problems, communication problems experienced within the couple, can be listed among the causes of the problems experienced.
Although sexual problems cannot be attributed to a single cause, one of the most important factors in the formation of sexual problems is our emotions. Sexuality, which is experienced away from emotion, does not satisfy individuals and as a result, a trust problem arises. The deeper the feelings felt for the partner, the more passionate the experience will be, and in this case it will be easier to deal with problems. Stress, fear of not being able to satisfy the spouse, first night fears, etc., apart from emotions. can cause sexual problems.
- What is Sex Therapy Background?
Vaginismus and premature ejaculation cases, sexual reluctance, erection problems, arousal and orgasm disorders in women can be treated to a large extent with the practice of “Sexual Therapy” throughout the world and in our country since the 1970s. Depending on the type of sexual problem, couples, sexual treatments last for 2-4 months on average, but there may be cases where the treatment takes 1-2 years.
- How is Sex Therapy Applied?
Sexuality, which we cannot limit only to the genitals, is a concept that is affected by body, psychology and social markers and is shaped by our feelings, thoughts and beliefs. For this reason, when sexual problems occur, if the problem is not based on a physiological source, in interviews with people, the real reasons underlying this problem are tried to be revealed. Even if the sexual problem occurs due to a medical reason, sexual therapies can be applied to relieve psychological factors and support the individual.
Among the sexual therapy methods, there are behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, systemic, couple and individual psychotherapy techniques with Masters and Johnson approach. The patient is treated by talking about the situations, concerns and feelings he/she has experienced.
In sexual problems, the aim is to shape the learning style of the person. In this process, a safe learning environment is created for the person, and the person is encouraged to discover himself, his identity, body and relationship under his own control.
- What to Talk About in Sex Therapy?
Since the sexual therapist is responsible for the selection of the treatment to be applied, he should inform the patient about the treatment details and get his thoughts. Before the treatment, the structure of the sexual problem in question, its causes, the couple’s feelings and thoughts about the issue, the development of the problems and experiences in the process, the effects of the ways tried before, the characteristics and rules of the treatment to be applied afterwards, the effectiveness of the treatment to be applied for the problem. information should be given.
During the interviews, an evaluation is made on the experiences, concerns, feelings and thoughts, the sexual life aimed at, as well as the communication problems that the couple has. In the next process, coping mechanisms that can provide positive developments with these problems on the basis of having a healthier sexual life and maintaining emotional communication within the framework of health are discussed.
- How Many Sessions Does Sexual Therapy Take?
Vaginismus and premature ejaculation cases, sexual reluctance, erection problems, arousal and orgasm disorders in women can be treated to a large extent with the practice of “Sexual Therapy” throughout the world and in our country since the 1970s. Depending on the type of sexual problem, couples, sexual treatments last for 2-4 months on average, but there may be cases where the treatment takes 1-2 years.
- What Sexual Dysfunctions Does Sex Therapy Treat?
Vaginismus, premature ejaculation, erection problems, pain during sexual intercourse, sexual desire problems, arousal disorders, orgasmic disorders can be treated with sexual therapies. In our country, problems caused by lack of sexual education, inadequacy of sexual experience, false beliefs about the subject can be mentioned in addition to the points that need to be supported during therapy.
- What are Exercises in Sex Therapy?
When the muscles that are not used in daily life but used during sexual intercourse become weak, it can lead to negative consequences such as loss of erection and premature ejaculation. Several exercises can be recommended to deal with these problems.
Push-ups: Push-ups are one of the best exercises to develop chest, abdominal and arm muscles.
Running: It is a good cardio exercise that prevents fatigue quickly.
Kegel exercise (Pelvic floor exercise): Since the pelvic muscle is one of the muscles that most affect sexual functions in men, strengthening these muscles can help control ejaculation time and harden.
Pelvic lift (Bridge) exercise: It develops the most important muscle groups in terms of sexuality.
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward facing dog pose): It is a yoga movement that helps strengthen the abdominal muscles and stretch the pelvic muscles.
Seated Straddle Stretch: It helps to accelerate blood flow and relax the pelvic muscles.
Reclined Butterfly Pose: It is a movement that facilitates sexual positions by helping the inner leg muscles and lower abdominal muscles to develop.
Plank stance (Push-up stance): It is effective in strengthening the abdominal muscles, upper legs and hips.
Lying Leg Raises: It is effective for strengthening the abdominal muscles and muscles in the groin area.
- What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
- Syphilis
- chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- hepatitis B
- HPV Infection
- Trichomonas
- AIDS-HIV
- Herpes (HSV Infection)
- What are the Misconceptions in Sexuality?
- Men should not show their feelings.
- The man should show his desire for sexual intercourse and the man should initiate the relationship.
- A woman who shows her sexual desire is a light person.
- Talking and thinking about making love spoils its naturalness and pleasure.
- When there is a problem with sexual intercourse, this will continue.
- A man is powerless if he is having sexual problems.
- There is no need to go to the doctor for sexual problems.
As these well-known but false myths are corrected among the public, and the level of sexual education increases, it will become easier to deal with problems.
