Many people first think of health from a medical lens where health is the absence of illness. A lot of people do have to navigate sexually transmitted illnesses, fertility, chronic illness that impacts their sex lives, or managing a sexual dysfunction may be the areas you first think of when thinking about sexual health. However, sexual health is also way more than the absence of sexually transmitted illnesses and really deals with more comprehensive factors from biological, psychological, social, and spiritual areas.
- Have you thought about how you feel about yourself sexually? Many people struggle with their sexual self esteem.
Your sexual self also adjusts as you age with certain life stage changes
- Wondering how to have a healthy and safe sex life in college?
- Are you wanting to get pregnant?
- How do your body's changes in pregnancy throughout the first and second trimesters affect your sex life?
- Are you wondering if you can you masturbate when pregnant?
Not Enough Sex
- Are you looking to awaken your sexual self?
- Feeling an aversion to sex?
- Trouble identifying your sexual needs and desires?
- Navigating your sexual attractions and orientation?
- People often find comfort in connecting to lesbian, gay, and bisexual networks
- Do you struggle to be in the moment during sex?
Trauma
Curiosity for new sexual behavior
- Looking for tips for anal play beginners and those who want to explore anal sex more?
Problematic Sexual Behavior
- Are you struggling to get work done due to feeling the need to masturbate at work?
- Worried you might have a sexual addiction and need help?
- Feeling shame around your sexual addiction?
- Contracted a STD like herpes and feeling down about your self worth?
Struggling with Sexual Dysfunctions
Delayed Ejaculation
- Marked delay in ejaculation or marked infrequency or absence of ejaculation without desiring delay for sexual gratification of yourself or partner.
Erectile Disorder
- Either marked difficulty obtaining, maintaining, or marked decrease in rigidity of erections
- Anxiety is a big factor for those who struggle with erectile disorder
Female Orgasmic Disorder
- Marked delay in, infrequency of, absence, or reduced intensity of orgasms. It is possible to never have experienced an orgasm under any situation. Here is a guide to assist with discovering your orgasmic potential through self stimulation.
- A woman experiencing orgasms through clitoral stimulation, but not during intercourse does not meet criteria for a clinical diagnosis of female orgasmic disorder from DSM 5. However, women desiring more variation in orgasms may still benefit from sex therapy at the Center for Growth.
- Ask yourself how adequate the sexual stimulation is.
- Also, remind yourself that overall sexual satisfaction is NOT strongly correlated with orgasmic experience and there are many other postive benefits to being sexual.
Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
Absent or reduced interest in
* sexual activity
* sexual/erotic thoughts or fantasies
* initiation of sexual activity
* sexual excitement/pleasure during sexual activity
* genital or nongenital sensations during sexual activity
Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder
- Formerly labeled as Vaginismus or Dyspareunia
- pain during vaginal penetration or attempts to penetrate
- marked fear or anxiety about pain during penetration
- marked tensing or tightening of the pelvic floor muscles
Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
- Recurrently deficient sexual thoughts or fantasies
Premature (Early) Ejaculation
- DSM 5 lists premature ejaculation as ejaculating approximately 1 minute after vaginal penetration and before the individual desires ejaculation. Therapists at Center for Growth are able to work with men who would like to last longer than they are able to after penetration or self stimulation even when a diagnosis is not warranted.
All of the above sexual dysfunctions may be induced by substances or medications used during or soon after intoxication.
Gender Dysphoria
- Incongruence between someone's assigned gender and their inner experienced gender
- desire to be of the other gender
- cross-dressing in attire socially assigned to the opposite gender
- preference for playing the role or with toys and/or activities of the other gender
- dislike for their sexual anatomy and/or secondary sexual characteristics
Paraphilic Disorders
Voyeuristic
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from observing an unsuspecting person undress or engage in sexual activity
Exhibitionistic Disorer
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from exposing one's genitals to unsuspecting persons
Frotteuristic Disorder
- Recurrent, intense sexual urges from touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person.
Sexual Masochism Disorder
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from the act of being humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise made to suffer as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors
Sexual Sadism Disorder
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from physically or psychologically causing suffering in another person as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors
Pedophilic Disorder
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from sexual urges or behaviors involving prepubescent children (around 13 or younger)
Fetishistic Disorder
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from nonliving objects or highly specific focus on nongenital body parts manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors
Transvestic Disorder
- Recurrent, Intense sexual arousal from cross-dressing as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors
Getting help for such a sensitive issue as sexuality requires specific training that sex therapists have. If you need more help for navigating any of the above sexual health topics, contact the Center for Growth for a consultation today!
