Homeopathic Treatment of Sexual problems

Sexual problems

Homeopathic Treatment of Sexual Problems

Sexual dysfunction or sexual malfunction refers to a difficulty experienced by an individual or a couple during any stage of a normal sexual activity, including desire, preference, arousal or orgasm. Sexual dysfunctions can have a profound impact on an individual's perceived quality of sexual life. A thorough sexual history and assessment of general health and other sexual problems (if any) are very important.

Sexual difficulties may begin early in a person's life, or they may develop after an individual has previously experienced enjoyable and satisfying sex. A problem may develop gradually over time, or may occur suddenly as a total or partial inability to participate in one or more stages of the sexual act. The causes of sexual difficulties can be physical, psychological, or both.

Emotional factors affecting sex include both interpersonal problems and psychological problems within the individual. Interpersonal problems include marital or relationship problems or lack of trust and open communication between partners. Personal psychological problems include depression, sexual fears or guilt, or past sexual trauma.

Causes of sexual problems:

Physical factors contributing to sexual problems include:

• Injuries to the back
• An enlarged prostate gland
• Disease (diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, tumors, and, rarely, tertiary syphilis)
• Drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine, narcotics, stimulants, antihypertensives (medicines that lower blood pressure), antihistamines, and some psychotherapeutic drugs (used to treat psychological problems such as depression)
• Endocrine disorders (thyroid, pituitary, or adrenal gland problems)
• Failure of various organs (such as the heart and lungs)
• Hormonal deficiencies (low testosterone, estrogen, or androgens)
• Nerve damage (as in spinal cord injuries)
• Problems with blood supply
• Some birth defects
• Sexual dysfunctions are most common in the early adult years, with the majority of people seeking care for such conditions during their late 20s through 30s.
• The incidence increases again in the perimenopause and post menopause years in women, and in the geriatric population, typically with gradual onset of symptoms that are associated most commonly with medical causes of sexual dysfunction.
• Sexual dysfunction is more common in people who abuse alcohol and drugs.

 

 

 

 

Classification of Sexual Disorders:

Sexual dysfunction disorders are generally classified into four categories:

1. 1. Sexual Desire Disorders:

Sexual desire disorders (decreased libido) may be caused by a decrease in the normal production of estrogen (in women) or testosterone (in both men and women). Other causes may be aging, fatigue, pregnancy, and medications -- the SSRI antidepressants which include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil) are well known for reducing desire in both men and women. Psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can also cause decreased libido.

1. 2. Sexual Arousal Disorder:

Sexual arousal disorders were previously known as frigidity in women and impotence in men. These have now been replaced with less judgmental terms. Impotence is now known as erectile dysfunction, and frigidity is now described as any of several specific problems with desire, arousal, or anxiety.

For both men and women, these conditions may appear as an aversion to, and avoidance of, sexual contact with a partner. In men, there may be partial or complete failure to attain or maintain an erection, or a lack of sexual excitement and pleasure in sexual activity.

There may be medical causes for these disorders, such as decreased blood flow or lack of vaginal lubrication. Chronic disease may also contribute to these difficulties, as well as the nature of the relationship between partners. As the success of Viagra attests, many erectile disorders in men may be primarily physical, not psychological conditions.

1. 3. Orgasm Disorders:

Orgasm disorders are a persistent delay or absence of orgasm following a normal sexual excitement phase. The disorder occurs in both women and men. Again, the SSRI antidepressants are frequent culprits -- these may delay the achievement of orgasm or eliminate it entirely.

1. 4. Sexual Pain Disorders:

Sexual pain disorders affect women almost exclusively, and are known as dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and vaginismus (an involuntary spasm of the muscles of the vaginal wall, which interferes with intercourse). Dyspareunia may be caused by insufficient lubrication (vaginal dryness) in women. There may also be abnormalities in the pelvis or the ovaries that can cause pain with intercourse. Vulvar pain disorders can also cause dyspareunia and inability to have intercourse due to pain.

Poor lubrication may result from insufficient excitement and stimulation, or from hormonal changes caused by menopause or breast-feeding. Irritation from contraceptive creams and foams may also cause dryness, as can fear and anxiety about sex.

It is unclear exactly what causes vaginismus, but it is thought that past sexual trauma such as rape or abuse may play a role. Another female sexual pain disorder is called vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis. In this condition, women experience burning pain during sex which may be related to problems with the skin in the vulvar and vaginal areas. The cause is unknown.

Sexual dysfunctions include:

• Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: This disorder may be present when a person has decreased sexual fantasies and a decreased or absent desire for sexual activity. In order to be considered a sexual disorder the decreased desire must cause a problem for the individual. In this situation the person usually does not initiate sexual activity and may be slow to respond to his/her partner's sexual advances. This disorder can be present in adolescents and can persist throughout a person's life. Many times, however, the lowered sexual desire occurs during adulthood, often times following a period of stress.

• Sexual Aversion Disorder: A person who actively avoids and has a persistent or recurrent extreme aversion to genital sexual contact with a sexual partner may have sexual aversion disorder. In order to be considered a disorder, the aversion to sex must be a cause of difficulty in the person's sexual relationship. The individual with sexual aversion disorder usually reports anxiety, fear, or disgust when given the opportunity to be involved sexually. Touching and kissing may even be avoided. Extreme anxiety such as panic attacks may actually occur. It is not unusual for a person to feel nauseated, dizzy, or faint.

 

 

• Female Sexual Arousal Disorder: Female sexual arousal disorder is described as the inability of a woman to complete sexual activity with adequate lubrication. Swelling of the external genitalia and vaginal lubrication are generally absent. These symptoms must cause problems in the interpersonal relationship to be considered a disorder. It is not unusual for the woman with female sexual arousal disorder to have almost no sense of sexual arousal. Often, these women experience pain with intercourse and avoid sexual contact with their partner.

• Male Erectile Disorder:If a male is unable to maintain an erection throughout sexual activity, he may have male erectile disorder. This problem must be either persistent or recurrent in nature. Also, the erectile disturbance must cause difficulty in the relationship with the sexual partner to be defined as a disorder. Some males will be unable to obtain any erection. Others will have an adequate erection, but lose the erection during sexual activity. Erectile disorders may accompany a fear of failure. Sometimes this disorder is present throughout life. In many cases the erectile failure is intermittent and sometimes dependent upon the type of partner or the quality of the relationship.
• Female Orgasmic Disorder: Female orgasmic disorder occurs when there is a significant delay or total absence of orgasm associated with the sexual activity. This condition must cause a problem in the relationship with the sexual partner in order to be defined as a disorder.
• Male Orgasmic Disorder: When a male experiences significant delay or total absence of orgasm following sexual activity, he may have male orgasmic disorder. In order to be qualified as a disorder, the symptoms must present a significant problem for the individual.
• Premature Ejaculation: When minimal sexual stimulation causes orgasm and ejaculation on a persistent basis for the male, he is said to have premature ejaculation. The timing of the ejaculation must cause a problem for the person or the relationship in order to be qualified as a disorder. Premature ejaculation is sometimes seen in young men who have experienced premature ejaculation since their first attempt at intercourse.
• Dyspareunia: Dyspareunia is a sexual pain disorder. Dyspareunia is genital pain that accompanies sexual intercourse. Both males and females can experience this disorder, but the disorder is more common in women. Dyspareunia tends to be chronic in nature.

Symptoms:

Men or women:

• Inability to feel aroused
• Lack of interest in sex (loss of libido)
• Pain with intercourse (much less common in men than women)

Men:

• Delay or absence of ejaculation, despite adequate stimulation
• Inability to control timing of ejaculation
• Inability to get an erection
• Inability to keep an erection adequately for intercourse

Women:

• Burning pain on the vulva or in the vagina with contact to those areas
• Inability to reach orgasm
• Inability to relax vaginal muscles enough to allow intercourse
• Inadequate vaginal lubrication before and during intercourse
• Low libido due to physical/hormonal problems, psychological problems, or relationship problems

Treatment of sexual dysfunction:

Treatment depends on the cause of the sexual dysfunction.

• Medical causes that are reversible or treatable are usually managed medically or surgically. Physical therapy and mechanical aides may prove helpful for some people experiencing sexual dysfunction due to physical illnesses or disabilities.
• Sildenafil (Viagra) may be helpful for men who have difficulty attaining an erection. The medication increases blood flow to the penis. It must be taken 1 to 4 hours before intercourse. Men who take nitrates for coronary heart disease should not take sildenafil.
• Mechanical aids and penile implants are an option for men who cannot attain an erection and find sildenafil is not helpful.
• Women with vaginal dryness may be helped with lubricating gels, hormone creams, and -- in cases of premenopausal or menopausal women -- with hormone replacement therapy.
• In some cases, women with androgen deficiency can be helped by taking testosterone. Kegel exercises may also increase blood flow to the vulvar/vaginal tissues, as well as strengthen the muscles involved in orgasm.
• Vulvodynia can be treated with numbing cream, biofeedback, or low doses of certain antidepressants that also treat nerve pain. Surgery has not been successful.
• Behavioral treatments involve many different techniques to treat problems associated with orgasm and sexual arousal disorders.
• Simple, open, accurate, and supportive education about sex and sexual behaviors or responses may be all that is required in many cases. Some couples may benefit from joint counseling to address interpersonal issues and communication styles. Psychotherapy may be required to address anxieties, fears, inhibitions, or poor body image.
• People who are victims of sexual trauma, such as sexual abuse or rape at any age, are urged to seek psychiatric advice. Individual counseling with an expert in trauma may prove beneficial in allowing

Homeopathic Treatment of Sexual Disorder:

Homeopathy acts on basic Personality---Sexuality axis. The disturbances of Sexual desire, Sexual perception & cognition, Sexual Arousal, Sexual Performance & Subjective Sexual experiences, are well taken care of by Homeopathy. Homeopathy heals not only the Sexual Dysfunction but also the problems of Sexuality, Personality and Relationship (which are often there in the background and constitutes as vital contributing and maintaining factors in genesis and maintenance of sexual problems on the surface. Unless they are effectively removed, the sex problem cannot be permanently solved.)

Role of Psychotherapy in Sexual disorders:

For sexual disorders, psychotherapy is usually the best option. You should look for a therapist who specializes or is well-experienced in sex therapy, a specific type of psychotherapy that is focused on helping a person or couple with their sexual issues. Psychotherapy is nonjudgmental. A professional therapist is there to help you address the sexual concern in a safe and supportive environment.

Psychosexual Therapy, known as PST, is treatment by a qualified practitioner which addresses a sexual dysfunction or emotional block within a relationship.

PST has a proven success rate and takes referrals from GPs and counsellors to look at physiological and psychological problems which are causing distress. Any physical cause such as medication, alcohol, stress or illness will also be considered.

PST is a behavioral program which openly explores and discusses the sexual problem and looks at emotional blocks for the couple.