Sexual Issues

It is common to experience sexual difficulties at some stage in life. Since sexuality varies, behaviours and preferences can be part of healthy sexual activity. Sexual behaviour becomes a disorder when it leads to significant distress, threatens to harm self or others, or becomes compulsive.

Sexual disorders are a diverse collection of experiences and conditions. Erectile disorder, also called erectile dysfunction, is a chronic inability to get or maintain an erection. A paraphilia – which includes conditions such as paedophiia and fetishistic disorder – is when sexual arousal depends on fantasizing about or engaging in atypical or extreme sexual behaviour.

Sexual desire disorder occurs when there is a lack of any drive for sex over a prolonged period. Orgasmic disorder may be diagnosed when a woman is not able to reach orgasm, and genito-pelvic pain or Penetration Disorder refers to experiencing extreme pain during penetrative sex.

It is important that physical factors are ruled out before CBT is sought, so consulting your GP should be your first step.

CBT may help you to identify unhelpful and limiting beliefs, understand the triggers and develop ways to function more healthily.