Sexual Problems

What sexual problems do we provide therapy for?

We provide psychosexual therapy for:

People with a vulva who are experiencing difficulties with:

  1. Painful sex (vaginismus,  dyspareunia or Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration disorder (GPPPD))
  2. Loss of libido (low desire for sex)
  3. Sexual arousal and orgasm

People with a penis who are experiencing difficulties with:

  1. Erections
  2. Premature ejaculation
  3. Delayed ejaculation
  4. Loss of libido (low desire for sex)

As it is usual for people to experience difficulties with sex at some point in their lives it is not generally considered sensible to diagnose a sexual problem unless it has been present for 6 months or more and happens on most occasions that sex is attempted

Sexual problems often have quite straightforward causes which tests or simple treatments can identify or solve and your GP can help to decide on the best type of specialist help required. This may be psychosexual therapy but couple counselling, personal therapy, or referral to another medical or psychological specialist may be more appropriate.

Talking to your partner is also a good idea as they may have a quite different idea of whether or not there is a problem and by working together any difficulties can be sorted more quickly. If it is difficult to talk to your partner or if such conversations seem to end in arguments or distress this is an indication that couple counselling would help more as a first step- organisations that can help can be found here.

Information about specific problems

Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection

It is not unusual for this to occur occasionally, for example loss of erection can happen because of drinking too much alcohol, or being over-anxious because of a new partner or because of stress. It might seem embarrassing to tell your GP but it is important that to rule out any medical conditions and your GP can often find helpful solutions. There are self-help options and links to other organisations here.

Premature ejaculation 

This is where you ejaculate too quickly or too soon for your liking. You might ejaculate as soon as you think about sexual activity or as soon as your penis enters your partner. It is important to discuss this with your partner to see how they feel about it. You might be setting your expectations too high and putting pressure on yourself. The more you feel under pressure about premature ejaculation the worse the situation can get, so try to relax. Don’t be afraid to talk to your GP about any problems you are experiencing. They can provide help and advice or may suggest that it would be beneficial for you to be referred for more specialist advice. There are self-help options and links to other organisations here.

Lack of sexual interest or desire

Anyone can suffer from difficulty with their sexual interest or desire, sometimes called loss of libido, and the most important thing is being able to talk to your partner about this. It can be due to a number of factors such as illness, medications, stress or other life events such as childbirth, moving house etc. Lack of sexual interest or desire can be improved by something as straightforward as talking to your partner about your concerns or you can consider trying out new sexual activities, using sex toys, or using erotic material to turn you on. It is important that your partner is happy with this too. If this fails to help you can seek advice from your GP to explore the possible reasons for loss of sex drive and find ways to help. There are self-help options and links to other organisations here.

Pain associated with sex 

This tends to be more common among people with a vulva but those with a penis can experience penile or anal pain with sex. In people with a vulva the pain is usually at the vaginal entrance on penetration but can be deeper inside during intercourse. Vaginismus is the term given to tightness around the vaginal entrance due to the vaginal muscles and can cause penetration to be impossible. In people with a penis a condition called Phimosis can cause tightness of the foreskin and discomfort. Pain during sex could be caused by a number of factors so it is best to seek advice from your GP or one of our sexual and reproductive health services. There are self-help options and links to other organisations here.

Difficulty with orgasm or ejaculation 

This can also affect anyone. It can be an effect of prescription drugs such as anti-depressants or non-prescriptive drugs such as alcohol. It can be psychological due to current sexual behaviour and habits, or to past negative sexual experiences. For some people it can also be linked to underlying health problems. If the inability to reach orgasm becomes problematic or is causing problems with your relationships then seek help from your GP. There are self-help options and links to other organisations here.

Compulsive Sexual Behaviours

Often referred to as Sex Addiction or Porn Addiction. Please note that we do not offer treatment for Compulsive Sexual behaviours (CSB) at Chalmers Centre. Please click here for more information.