BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES from a sex therapist

Four examples:

• Premature ejaculation

A premature ejaculator knows in advance that sexual relations will not be satisfying and feels anxiety about it. This anxiety will result in quicker ejaculation. Therefore, he will gradually lose his sexual motivations, which will increase his premature ejaculation. Progressively, it may leads to repeated breakdowns, and later to psychological erectile dysfunctions.

• Erectile dysfunctions

One day, a man cannot manage to have an erection for various reasons such as tiredness or worries. During the next sexual intercourse, the fear of erectile dysfunction will result in an erection obsession and due to this obsession; he will not pay attention to the body language (eroticism) of his partner. This will inhibit the physiological mechanism of erection. Thus, he will prevent himself from having an erection!

• Pains during sexual relations (also known as dyspareunia)

Women, who are suffering from pains during sexual intercourses, and whose gynecological examination is normal, have often known former painful episodes from medical origin. However, even after being cured, the fear of pain will lead to involuntary contractions of the vaginal muscles, which will result in painful sexual relations. Thus, these women fall into a spiral of anxiety: fear of pain leads to involuntary contractions of vaginal muscles, which result in pain.

• Vaginismus (example very similar to the precedent)

Vaginismus is related to the fear of penetration. However, causes of vaginismus are different from those of dyspareunia. Fear of pain during penetration will cause an involuntary contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina, which will prevent any form of penetration.

	Generalities about BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES
	Behavioral and cognitive therapies are modern therapies. These therapies are the preferred treatment for anxiety disorders and sexual dysfunctions. These therapies are based on the fact that faulty thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors are often responsible of most of the sexual problems. The aim of these therapies is to change progressively behaviors and negative thinking patterns such as fear of failure, which often results in lasting maladaptive sexual behaviors. These therapies consist in daily exercises of gradually increasing difficulty that you will have to do at home. Thanks to these exercises, you will learn to overcome progressively anxiety situations. You will also get back self-esteem and satisfying sexual behavior.

	Behavioral therapies in sexology
	Four examples: • Premature ejaculation A premature ejaculator knows in advance that sexual relations will not be satisfying and feels anxiety about it. This anxiety will result in quicker ejaculation. Therefore, he will gradually lose his sexual motivations, which will increase his premature ejaculation. Progressively, it may leads to repeated breakdowns, and later to psychological erectile dysfunctions. • Erectile dysfunctions One day, a man cannot manage to have an erection for various reasons such as tiredness or worries. During the next sexual intercourse, the fear of erectile dysfunction will result in an erection obsession and due to this obsession; he will not pay attention to the body language (eroticism) of his partner. This will inhibit the physiological mechanism of erection. Thus, he will prevent himself from having an erection! • Pains during sexual relations (also known as dyspareunia) Women, who are suffering from pains during sexual intercourses, and whose gynecological examination is normal, have often known former painful episodes from medical origin. However, even after being cured, the fear of pain will lead to involuntary contractions of the vaginal muscles, which will result in painful sexual relations. Thus, these women fall into a spiral of anxiety: fear of pain leads to involuntary contractions of vaginal muscles, which result in pain. • Vaginismus (example very similar to the precedent) Vaginismus is related to the fear of penetration. However, causes of vaginismus are different from those of dyspareunia. Fear of pain during penetration will cause an involuntary contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina, which will prevent any form of penetration.

	Behavioral therapies in sexology
	Thus, to cure premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunctions, dyspareunia, vaginismus, frigidity, anorgasmia or other sexual problems, it is necessary to change your negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors by performing appropriate exercises. These exercises are of gradually increasing difficulty, structured and will allow you to perform them to your own rhythm because what is the most important is to master each step before to go through the next one.