Beh_225_-_Sexual_Disorders

Farah Hatcher Sexual Disorders University of Phoenix Sexual disorders can pertain to many different problems and habits including but not limited to erectile dysfunction and even pain during intercourse. A sexual disorder is hard to pin point because there is no real normal level of sexual desire, arousal, or a perfect number of orgasms for everyone to have. The sexual disorders can be broken down into many different diagnoses such as sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is when problems interfere with the sexual cycle and prevents sexual activity. The types of sexual disorder can be identified into four different disorders. Desire disorders which are when there is a lack of or no desire for sex. An arousal disorder is when a person is unable to stay aroused during sex, such as erectile dysfunction for men. The lack of or the delay of an organism or climax is called Orgasm disorder. Another disorder is called Pain disorder, when pain is present during sex. Sexual dysfunction can be diagnosed by a physician by researching the history of the patient and ruling out medical issues that may but the cause. The doctor will only diagnose the sexual problem as a disorder if it is causing problem for the patients. Once the doctor has diagnosed the disorder medication may be given to the patient. In doctor may refer the patient to a counselor to discuss underlining problems. Problems may accrue when a person uses sex objects to get aroused, called Paraphilias. Paraphilias is the second type of sexual disorder; there are many types of paraphilias such as fetishism. Fetishism is described According to Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders (2010), "[ a disorder that is characterized by recurrent intense sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies generally involving non-human objects, the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner (not merely simulated), or children or other non-consenting persons. The essential feature of fetishism is recurrent intense sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies involving specific objects. While any object may become a fetish, the distinguishing feature is its connection with sex or sexual gratification. A diagnosis of fetishism is made only if an individual has acted on these urges, is markedly distressed by them, or if the fetish object is required for gratification.]” (Fetishism, para. 1). Diagnosing fetish can be done but the patients admitting to the events and the doctor observing the patients personality. Once the disorder is diagnosed the doctor may use treatment such as behavioral therapy but many people do not want the issue to be corrected. Paraphilias have many disorders that people do not seek professional help for such as voyeurism, exhibitionism, frotteurism, transvestic fetishism, sexual sadism, sexual masochism, and pedophilia. Voyeurism is another sexual disorder when someone gets aroused when watching other people are naked or having intercourse. In order for someone to be labeled with this disorder and many others the issue has to be disturbing the lifestyle of the person. Treatment for voyeurism can be medication and a combination of behavioral treatment. The treatment and diagnoses is the same for the disorders called exhibitionism, frotteurism, and transvestic fetishism. Exhibitionism is when someone reveals their genital to a stranger. Frotteurism is getting aroused by slightly touching a stranger or rubbing against someone unconsenting. If a person starts’ wearing the cloths of the opposite sex to gain sexual arosal it is called transvestic fetishism. All of these paraphilias are sexual disorders that do not involve violence or aggression. Paraphilias involving aggression are sexual sadism, sexual masochism, and the most serious pedophilia. Sexual sadism is when a person has to have aggression to have sexual pleasure. The person must have dreams and urges to harm, humiliate, and belittling another person in order to have arousal in order to be diagnosed. Once diagnosed the treat may include medication, social skill therapy, and behavioral therapy. When someone takes it a step farther and has to cause physical or emotional pain it is called sexual masochism. Just like a person with sexual sadism the treatment and diagnosis are similar. The last paraphilias is called pedophilia which is the most serious of the paraphilias. Pedophilia is an act of sexual activity involving a child under the age of 13. In order to be diagnoses with pedophilia one must be over age 16 and have urges or sexual desires towards a child that is five years younger. The treatment for pedophilia has changed over the years from shock treatment to behavioral therapy, to now psychotherapy and medication. In very few cases a radical surgery of castration can be offered to the patient who is a reoccurring threat. The last sexual disorder is called Gender-Identity disorder, which is when a person male or female feels they are in opposite sex or believes they wish to become the opposite sex. Gender-Identity disorder is According to AllPsych Online (2003), "[ Theories suggest that childhood issues may play a role in this disorder, such as the parent-child relationship at an early age and the identification a child is able to make with the parents of the same gender ]” (Psychiatric Disorders, para. 1). The diagnosis are usually brought you the attention of a doctor or therapist and is usually accompanied by other disorders, such as depression. The treatment they should be used will need to start with treating the other disorder first with therapy and behavioral therapy. Sexual disorders can affect anyone and everyone from early childhood to the elderly. The diagnosis’s of most of the sexual disorders is to recognize that there is a problem and to seek help for the issue. Once the issue has been identified by a professional certain treatments will need to be taken seriously. Seeking help for any disorder such as the ones listed above is the biggest step anyone can take. References: AllPsych Online. (2003). AllPsych Online. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/disorders/sexual/genderidentity.html Encyclopedia ofMental Disorders. (2010). Encyclopedia ofMental Disorders. Retrieved from http://www.minddisorders.com/Del-Fi/Fetishism.html