Both men and women can experience a wide variety of sexual dysfunctions . Some of these disorders involve pain, difficulty reaching orgasm, or difficulty maintaining sexual arousal.

Suffering sexual problems is a complex experience, because many times this situation not only affects the person who suffers it, but also their partner. Although sexologist in Delhi deal with patients who come to their consultations for these types of disorders on a daily basis, many individuals find it difficult to take the step and seek professional help, mainly because of the shame they feel.

Main sexual problems

What are the main sexual problems suffered by both men and women? What disorders affect the sexual well-being of a person or a couple?

In the following lines you can find a list with the most common sexual problems and how to treat them.

1. Disorder of sexual desire

Lack of interest in sex, or lack of sexual desire, is a common problem in both sexes ; however, it is more common among women. In fact, it is considered the most common sexual dysfunction in women, reaching an incidence of 33% between 18 and 59 years and up to 45% in menopause. This apathy not only includes disinterest in sex, but also in all sexual behavior, such as masturbation.

The causes can be both physical and psychological. Regarding the latter, the following stand out: couple problems, other sexual dysfunctions (vaginismus, erectile dysfunction, etc.), mood disorders, anxiety and stress, fatigue or monotony.

2. Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the inability of the man to achieve and / or maintain the erection of the penis and, therefore, to have a satisfactory intercourse. It is one of the most feared sexual problems among men, and it can have a severe impact on the life of the affected person, especially on their self-esteem and on their interpersonal relationships.

It occurs for different causes, although performance anxiety is one of the psychological origins that can cause this sexual limitation and that turns this problem into a vicious circle from which it is difficult to get out.

3. Disorder in sexual arousal in women

Arousal disorder in women refers to the inability to experience physiological changes during sexual arousal , such as vaginal lubrication, rapid heartbeat and muscle tension; a situation that lasts throughout sexual activity. As with erectile dysfunction, arousal disorder in women has a high incidence.

The psychological factors that are most important in the appearance of this sexual problem are the anticipated fear of having a new sexual failure and the anxiety that this fear provokes.

4. Vaginismus

Vaginismus is a female sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to achieve vaginal penetration due to the contraction of the muscles that surround the entrance to the vagina. It occurs due to a reflex spasm that causes the muscles in this area to contract, thus causing the vaginal opening to close.

The cause is usually found in the fact that some women associate penetration with the feeling of danger. The anxiety that derives from this situation causes a tension response that makes it impossible to relax the vaginal muscles.

5. Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is a male orgasmic disorder in which the male expels semen prematurely , without his wanting it, on a recurring basis in response to sexual stimulation either before, during or after penetration. It can originate from different causes, with psychological factors being the predominant ones.

Psychological causes include: low self-esteem, performance anxiety, depression, distress, and nervousness.

6. Anorgasmia

Anorgasmia is another type of orgasm disorder that affects both men and women ; however, it is more frequent in the case of the latter (female anargosmia). It is defined as an absence or delay of orgasm during normal sexual activity, and as in the previous case, psychological factors tend to predominate over organic ones.

7. Pain disorder

Dyspareunia is persistent and recurring pain in the pelvic area during or shortly after penetration , erection, or ejaculation, and it can occur in both men and women, although it is more common in women (female dyspareunia). Scientific studies conclude that approximately 12% of women suffer from it. Female dyspareunia usually appears associated with vaginismus problems.

8. Sex aversion disorder

People who suffer from this disorder, also called sexual rejection, actively and passively avoid all genital contact . The cause is usually extreme anxiety and panic before the sexual act. It tends to occur more frequently in women.

How to treat sexual problems

Talking about sexual problems can be difficult, in large part because people in this situation can feel ashamed, guilty, failed and defeated both in life and in front of their partners. This circumstance does nothing but feed the disorder, since the individual enters a vicious circle from which it is difficult to get out.

Therefore, the best option is to seek professional help, either in person or remotely . In most cases, sexual disorders have a psychological origin, and therefore sexual psychotherapy is an effective one to treat these problems and in this way overcome suffering and improve well-being.

Some therapeutic procedures

This is a summary of the most common forms of therapeutic intervention when it comes to helping people with affective-sexual problems of totally or partially psychological causes.

1. Cognitive restructuring

Many times, the inability to fully enjoy sexuality has to do with dysfunctional beliefs that lead to repression, especially those that maintain a low level of self-esteem, complexes about one's own body, etc.

In therapy, it is helped to get rid of these beliefs through procedures such as Socratic dialogue or the ascending arrow technique , associated with an intervention known as cognitive restructuring, which, as its name suggests, is based on modifying thought patterns and interpretation of reality.

2. Training in pleasurable

This is an especially useful technique in sexual relations in the context of the couple. It is based on degenitalizing relationships and making intimate moments based on other forms of interaction.

3. Semans stop-start technique

This is a technique specifically designed to treat premature ejaculation problems. Helps improve "endurance" through progressive training of ascending difficulty.

4. Counseling and psychoeducation

In the sexological intervention sessions, people are also informed about theoretical-practical aspects related to sexuality , something very necessary considering the misinformation in this area, in part due to the taboo with everything related to sex.

5. Stimulus exposure techniques

This type of procedure is very useful to solve sexual dysfunctions based on anxiety and reactions associated with stress, such as vaginismus. It consists of generating habituation to anxious situations, allowing them to lose their fear .