How are erection problems addressed in sex therapy?

These are the ways in which people with erectile dysfunction are helped in therapy.

Erectile dysfunction is one of the sexual dysfunctions that affect most males. However, fortunately, it can be effectively treated both from medicine and from sex therapy based on the findings of Psychology and emotional regulation methods.

In this article you will find a summary of how erectile dysfunction is addressed through psychosexual therapy, as well as the factors that can cause erectile dysfunction.as well as the factors that can cause this problem.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Also popularly known as "impotence", erectile dysfunction is the inability to maintain a full erection during sexual activity.. It is, together with premature ejaculation, the most frequent sexual dysfunction in men.

Erectile dysfunction can be produced or facilitated by a large number of organic alterations; basically, all those that directly or indirectlyBasically, all those that directly or indirectly affect the physiological process linked to sexual arousal and the triggering of the changes that this produces in the male genitalia. This includes injuries from blows, burns or cuts, as well as diseases that damage the nerve cells involved in erection, as well as those that alter the production of certain hormones.

In practice, however, and if we look at the statistics, the pathologies with easily identifiable organic causes with which erectile dysfunction is most associated are Cardiovascular diseases and benign prostatic hyperplasia. In other words, two phenomena that directly influence the functioning of the genitals (we must not forget that erection occurs when the corpora cavernosa fill with blood) and their surrounding areas.

On the other hand, as we have already mentioned, erectile dysfunction is a problem that statistically is a problem that is statistically very closely linked to age.It affects about 7% of men under 40 years of age, 22% of men in their 40s, and one in two men in their 70s.

However, it would be simplistic to assume that erectile dysfunction is basically a medical problem. Often the main causes are psychological, and even in cases where there is an organic disease, emotional disturbances often overlap with the symptoms of the latter. That is why when therapy is offered to men with erection problems, in the early stages much importance is given to determine the cause or causes of what is happening, to offer personalized solutions that do not ignore the cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes that play a possible role in the occurrence of this phenomenon.

Among the psychological aspects that can cause or favor the appearance and maintenance of erectile dysfunction, the following should be highlighted the following should be highlighted:

• Depression
• Anxiety during sexual intercourse
• Intrusive thoughts related to the failure to achieve an erection.
• Insecurity with one's own nudity and sexuality.
• Conflicting relational dynamics with recent sexual partners.

How is erectile dysfunction treated in sex therapy?

These are the main areas of intervention in patients with erectile dysfunction, although they are always used or not depending on the specific needs of each person.

1. Psychoeducation and sex education

Something as simple as informing about aspects related to sexuality, the management of emotions and the healthy habits to follow to prevent erectile dysfunction. to follow to prevent sexual dysfunctions is very useful to combat erectile dysfunction, especially in cases where it occurs mainly due to fears and the belief in myths that circulate about sex.

2. Imagery exercises in therapy

Imagery is based on performing imagery exercises, having previously practiced so that these mental images and their associated sensations are very vivid, very similar to the real world. They make it possible to control emotions during the course of key actions, in this case, focused on sexuality and sexual arousal. In this way it is possible to practice the management of anxiety and other emotions in a "controlled environment" in which it is easier to start making progress from relatively simple initial challenges.

In this way, the type of experiences associated with erection become less and less fearful.. In addition, the patient is trained in the ability to let go of worries about whether or not an erection is being achieved (these fears often hinder the process) and focus instead on satisfaction.

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is used for a wide variety of problems caused in whole or in part by poor anxiety regulation.. It consists of inducing the patient to a certain mental state while he receives information about his nervous activity in real time, thanks to a series of sensors applied on his skin. In this way, he learns to encourage those psychological operations that bring him closer to a certain goal, and to discard the rest.

4. Improvement of self-esteem through cognitive restructuring

Low self-esteem is closely linked to sexual dysfunctions, both as a cause and as a consequence. Therefore, it is common in therapy to work on helping the person to have a more adequate level of self-esteem.

This involves a wide variety of techniques and strategies, but one of the most important is cognitive restructuring, which consists of leading the patient to question himself/herself. consists of leading the patient to question dysfunctional beliefs to which he/she has been clinging and which have been causing him/her problems.replacing them with others that allow us to have a more constructive mentality and not to fall again and again into the avoidance of experiences.

5. Making a schedule of challenges

Between therapy sessions, patients should carry out a series of tasks in their private life. These goals to be achieved throughout the week are distributed temporally and designed following an ascending difficulty curve and adjusted to the person's level of progress; having short-term goals to achieve (in days or hours) helps the patient to feel motivated to continue improving. to continue improving.

Bibliographical references:

• Althof, S.E. & Wieder, M. (2004). Psychotherapy for erectile dysfunction: now more relevant than ever. Endocrine, 23(2-3): pp. 131 - 134.
• Anna Kessler Sam Sollie Ben Challacombe Karen Briggs Mieke Van Hemelrijck (2019). The global prevalence of erectile dysfunction: a review. BJU International, 124(4): pp. 587 - 599.
• Avasthi, A.; Grover, S.; Rao, T.S.S. (2017). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sexual Dysfunction. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(1): pp. 91 - 115.
• Kendirci, M.; Nowfar, S.; Hellstrom, W.J. (2005). The impact of vascular risk factors on erectile function". Drugs Today (Barc), 41(1): pp. 65 - 74.
• Shamloul, R.; Bella, A.J. (2014). Erectile Dysfunction. Biota Publishing.