Sexual and Gender issues
Sexual and gender issues can impact on sexual function, identity, mood, anxiety, and a host of other aspects of emotions and behaviours. There are different classifications of issues depending on the age of the person.
Common sexual issues
The most commonly occurring sexual dysfunctions include delayed or premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, reduced sexual desire, female orgasmic disorder, and genito-pelvic disorder. There are treatments for each of these conditions, including medication and psychological therapy.
Erectile disorder
Female orgasmic disorder
Reduced sexual desire
Sexual dysfunctions
Sexual dysfunctions include delayed ejaculation, erectile disorder, male hypoactive sexual desire, premature ejaculation, female sexual interest/arousal/orgasmic disorder, and genito-pelvic disorder. In general, these disorders impair a person’s ability to respond sexually or experience sexual pleasure. It is possible to have multiple concurrent sexual dysfunctions. Dysfunction may be generalised (i.e., across all environments) or situational (i.e., only in certain circumstances). The interventions vary depending on the specific dysfunction, but in general are responsive to clinical psychological methods and in certain circumstances, medication.
Erectile disorder
Premature ejaculation
Female orgasmic disorder
Gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a concept designated in the DSM-5 that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity. This sense of unease or dissatisfaction may be so intense it can lead to depression and anxiety and have a harmful impact on daily life. Not all transgender or gender diverse people experience dysphoria.
Incongruence between expressed and assigned gender
Associated with distress
Associated with impairment
Prevalence of common issues
Mental health conditions vary in presentation from person to person, severity and longevity. Some people may have more than one condition to help explain their full experience. In the UK at any one time, the prevalence of mental health issues is as follows:
Personality issue
4%
Generalised anxiety
6%
Depression with anxiety
8%
Addiction
12%
