Dr Aninda Gupta, IHBAS (Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences) alumni, completed her fellowship in psychosexual medicine. She has seven years of experience in a General Hospital Psychiatry Unit and a Tertiary Care Neuropsychiatry centre and was a recipient of the woman of substance award in 2022. In addition to educating the public on sexual health, she is an expert in adolescent and relationship counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, marital therapy, and supportive counselling. Currently, she practises at Chandigarh hospital, Hanumangarh.
“There are various factors associated with sexual dysfunction from physical illness to mental distress. While the physical causes are often highlighted, people often forget how much brain (mental) health can contribute to positive sexual experiences. A holistic approach brings a personable aspect to raising awareness of sexual health - your brain is a powerful organ.”
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I have been struggling with premature ejaculation for 3 years now. After seeing many doctors, I was unable to see any improvement in my symptoms. Dr Aninda’s consultation was not only thorough and made me feel comfortable, but after following her treatment plan, I have seen such great improvements. I am incredibly happy with my results thus far.
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I have been struggling with diabetes for several years now, and because of that have been experiencing sexual dysfunction. I have been embarrassed and insecure about this and this has greatly affected my mental health. After two consultations with Dr Aninda, I was able to understand how having my diabetes under control can lead to positive changes in my sex life - I am incredibly grateful for her guidance and treatment.
Erectile Dysfunction is defined as the inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The condition can affect anyone at any age.
Remember - the blood flow (BF), the nerve supply, and the balance of sex hormones - a concern in any of these can lead to Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction can be caused by a physical (a ‘hardware’ problem) or psychological (mental health effects) - mental health can play a huge part.
Did you know that Erectile Dysfunction can be an indication of cardiovascular concerns? Chronic health conditions affecting blood flow can lead to Erectile Dysfunction.
If a man lasts less than 2 minutes after penetration (all or most of the time), and/or if it leads to frequent dissatisfaction for him or his partner, he may have Premature Ejaculation.
The causes of Premature Ejaculation include:
(1) Physical Factors: Medical conditions, chronic health conditions, or sexual disorders are some physical causes of Premature Ejaculation.
(2) Psychological Factors: Depression, Anxiety
Did you know that Erectile Dysfunction can be a cause of Premature Ejaculation?
Premature Ejaculation can lead to other sexual dysfunctions, but that is not a wide-known fact.
Vaginismus is a condition in which the muscles in the vagina tighten up during penetration.
Vaginismus is commonly caused by psychological factors. Women don't have control over the tightening, and it can be uncomfortable. Due to the physical discomfort, the anxiety or fear response gets worse, and this can lead to a cycle of avoidance.
Did you know that there are four types of Vaginismus?
(1) Primary Vaginismus
(2) Secondary Vaginismus
(3) Situational Vaginismus
(4) Global Vaginismus
Low sexual desire, commonly referred to as low libido, is a decrease in sex drive.
Individuals that experience low sexual desire due to various causes are impacted physically, mentally, and emotionally by the symptoms the condition can cause.
Like other most common sexual disorders, low sexual desire can be influenced by many aspects, such as hormonal imbalance, increased age, side effects of medications, chronic illnesses, and addictive or compulsive behavior.
This would include concerns with infertility and/or conception. Sexual disorders such as Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, and Vaginismus can lead to challenges with pregnancy attempts.
There could be various causes of infertility, such as sexual dysfunctions, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions leading to low sexual desire and a low sperm count. A sexual health professional should evaluate the causes of failed pregnancy attempts because there can be a variety of causes.
Porn addiction refers to a person becoming excessively dependent on pornography leading to a disruption in their everyday life. This could include their job, relationships and at times, their day-to-day lifestyle.
The causes behind porn addiction could be:
(1) Negative sexual experiences
(2) Incorrect understanding of porn and its uses
(3) Initially trying to learn about sexual experiences, resulted in dependency
(4) Experiencing mental health disorders such as OCD (an anxiety disorder) or depression
Watching porn isn’t a bad thing, nor should it be associated with any shame. However, compulsive porn watching can have negative effects on your sexual, physical and mental health.