Sexual Dysfunctions: Therapeutic Approaches
Sexual dysfunctions affect a significant proportion of the population: about 40% of women and 30% of men report at least one significant sexual difficulty. Desire, arousal, orgasm disorders or sexual pain: sex therapy offers effective, validated protocols for most of these disorders.
Classification
DSM-5 and ICD-11 classify sexual dysfunctions into four categories: desire, arousal, orgasm and pain disorders. They can be primary/secondary, generalized/situational, with psychological, organic or mixed origins.
Male Dysfunctions
Erectile disorder: CBT, sensate focus and performance anxiety work. Premature ejaculation: squeeze technique, stop-start, 60-90% success rate. Delayed ejaculation: stimulation modification and psychotherapy.
Female Dysfunctions
Hypoactive desire: Nagoski's 'brakes and accelerator' model. Anorgasmia: education, Kegel exercises, guided self-exploration. Dyspareunia/vaginismus: progressive dilators, pelvic physiotherapy, desensitization — 90%+ success rate.
Research Evidence
Meta-analyses confirm CBT effectiveness for premature ejaculation, vaginismus and psychogenic erectile disorder. Combined medical-sexotherapy treatment yields best results.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes. Sexual dysfunctions require medical assessment to rule out organic causes.