Dr Sidharth, a post-graduate from the Institute of Human behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi is a mental health specialist with 4 years of experience. With an MBBS degree from Maulana Azad Medical College, he currently works as a consultant psychiatrist at The Mind Garden clinic in South Delhi.
"Sexual health is exceedingly stigmatised and many people suffer in silence. Everyone deserves access to holistic sexual health care and the treatment of psychological disorders - the latter can significantly impact sexual dysfunction symptoms. It’s time we start spreading awareness."
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Since I was in college, I have been struggling to have sex without pain and discomfort and I stopped trying after 2 years. As a woman, I didn’t know who I could turn to, and I didn’t know why this was happening - it affected my mental health a lot. This year I decided to consult with a doctor to learn what may be the cause. During my consultation with Dr Sidharth, I learned that I had Vaginismus. He explained to me that this was psychological concern, and suggested that I do certain exercises and use a lubricant. I was hesitant to try anything after my first consultation, but after two follow-ups I had the confidence to try again. I am so relieved to say that for the first time, I was able to experience sex without any pain or discomfort.
Video visit
For as long as I remember, I have had no interest in having sex. I recently started a relationship with a new partner, and this became a huge problem. I felt very guilty, and my partner and I started to have fights and I blamed myself. I consulted with Dr Sidharth, and he suggested I test my testosterone levels - I learned that they were low and were the cause behind my low sexual desire. He prescribed medications and gave me advice on how to let my partner know about what I am going through. It has been 2 months since I have completed my treatment and I can say that it has changed my life. My partner and I are now able to have satisfiable sex, and our relationship has greatly improved.
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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.
