medical challenges
Medical Challenges
Health issues affect a person’s sexuality and sexual expression, as well as their partner’s. Sometimes, the impact is minimal and insignificant... other times health issues will profoundly disrupt one’s sex life. (cut this from chronic pain subcategory).
Every individual deserves a satisfying sex life.
COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED:
Orgasm Issues (Anorgasmia, Delayed Ejaculation, Premature Ejaculation)
Body Image Issues
Pain with Sex (Pelvic Pain, Vaginsmus, Vulvodynia)
Chronic Pain
Sexual function can be affected by health in subtle ways, or in very obvious ways. For example, medications can have side effects that indirectly affect sexual function. If a patient’s medication results in frequent urination at night, he or she will have reduced quality or quantity of sleep, which can lead to reduced interest in sex. Sex may become less spontaneous and then infrequent, and neither partner may identify the medication side effect as a source of dysfunction.
Some illnesses will directly affect an individual’s sexual function. Conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, ulcerative colitis, and Multiple Sclerosis, (and many others) will change sex dramatically. When sex changes, individuals may noticed increased stress, worry, and/or guilt about sex. Many couples don’t know how to talk about the feelings that these health challenges bring up. Sex therapy teaches patients and partners what to expect and how to talk about these really sensitive topics, and how to move toward a new normal that is pleasurable and satisfying to both partners. Sex can still be great, even as it changes over time.
Sex With Illness
All health issues can have an effect on a patient’s sexuality and sexual expression, and therefore on their partner’s sex life as well.
Medications used to treat disease can have side effects that indirectly affect sexual function. For example, some high blood pressure medications can increase fatigue, which can interfere in a couple's sex life. Or some medications may cause frequent urination at night, which can reduce quality or quantity of sleep, which can lead to reduced interest in sex. For all health issues, sex may become less spontaneous, orgasms may be changed, and worries about sex may be increased.
Some illnesses will directly affect an individual’s sexual function. Conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, ulcerative colitis, and Multiple Sclerosis, (and many others) will change sex dramatically. Many couples don’t know how to talk about the feelings that these health challenges bring up. Today’s media and sex education reinforce the myth that “sex comes naturally” and it should just “flow” easily and not require a conversation. Real life proves this theory wrong. Sex therapy teaches patients and partners what to expect and how to talk about these really sensitive topics, and how to move toward a new normal that is pleasurable and satisfying to both partners.Sex can still be great, even as it changes over time.
Sex with Cancer
A cancer diagnosis changes things – instantly.
Every individual’s journey is unique, but figuring out sex and intimacy while treating or recovering from cancer is confusing for most. For example, cancer treatments may interfere in frequency or quality of sexual pleasure for an individual or for a couple. Or, the partner with cancer may avoid sex due to body image, energy, or mortality concerns, etc. Sex therapy can help redefine sex to maintain intimacy when cancer has changed the body and the way it looks, feels, and/or works.
Reproductive Cancer/Surgeries
Regardless of health status, every individual deserves a satisfying sex life.
Sometimes our reproductive and/or sexual organs develop problems. Women may develop breast cancer and require surgery and/or anti-estrogen treatment. This causes profound changes in their sex lives. Men may get prostate cancer and struggle with their post treatment erections, orgasms, or urinary incontinence. Sometimes women who have pelvic surgery notice sensation changes after they heal. Other times, physical sensation is intact after surgery, but a patient may need to grieve the loss of their body part, and the don’t feel “sexy” anymore. Unfortunately, in most medical visits, sexual expression and sexual changes after illness or surgery are ignored.
When health challenges seem insurmountable and incompatible with sex, Dr. Modjoros can work with you to bring new dimension and fulfillment to your sex life.
Sex after Surgery
In today's medical world, many people will experience surgery at some point in their lives.
Appendectomies, spine surgeries, Caesarian sections, knee replacements — every surgery changes an individual's body in countless ways. Sometimes postoperative changes, including scar tissue, affect the patient's sexual experience. Following surgery, how sex happens may need to change. Dr. Modjoros helps individuals and couples work through redefining their sexual script to develop a new norm that is pleasurable and satisfying for both.
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Pregnancy/Sex After Baby
During pregnancy, delivery, and lactation (breastfeeding), a woman’s body goes through amazing transformations.
However, following these changes, the body often experiences sex differently….sensation changes, pain/dryness with sex, mood/hormonal changes and body image issues can all contribute to trouble with sex after baby. Women often struggle to regain their sexual selves while adjusting to their new life and balancing their energy between kids, partner, and self. Sex therapy can help a couple reconnect and renew their sexual energy together.
Menopause
All women, when at a certain age, will experience menopause.
This is the phase of life when estrogen and other hormones decrease to levels that do not allow ovulation (fertility) any more. For some women, menopause has an emotional significance as they may feel a loss of femininity and/or a loss of sexual desire.
Others will experience menopause with joy as menstrual periods end and sex can be unrestricted. Menopause can be associated with physical symptoms, such as hot flashes/sleep disturbance, vaginal dryness, lower libido, etc.
During the menopausal transition, male partners may be unprepared and rather confused when her body responses change. Sex therapy can help by clarifying what is happening, managing expectations, and planning for adjustments to sex lives that allow both partners to enjoy this liberating life chapter.
Pain with Sex
Pelvic Pain, Vaginsmus, Vulvodynia
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is the involuntary clamping of the pelvic muscles. It causes significant pain with vaginal penetration, and often prevents intercourse at all. This condition is best treated with a combination of physical therapy to improve the muscular function of the pelvic floor and sex therapy to relieve the psychological stress this condition often causes.
Painful Intercourse
Pain during intercourse is an unwelcomed intrusion into an otherwise pleasurable experience. The pain may be related to a medical condition, an emotional response, or simply insufficient arousal. When pain is recurrent, a patient and their partner may struggle to maintain intimacy. Fear of sexual pain and stress leads to reduced interest in sex, reduced frequency of sex, and increased emotional distance. Couples counseling is a vital part of the recovery from prolonged sexual pain. Treatment may also include gyneocological or urologic care from a medical provider and pelvic floor physical therapy, in combination with sex counseling. Regardless of which partner has pain, both partners are affected, so whenever possible, couples are encouraged to participate in the counseling process together.
Pelvic Pain
There are many causes of pelvic pain -- vulvodynia, endometriosis, hip arthritis, prostatitis, vaginismus, bladder pain syndrome to name a few. Regardless the source of pelvic pain, Dr. Modjoros will collaborate with your medical providers to develop a comprehensive therapeutic plan. In therapy, Dr. Modjoros will help you and your partner to better understand and appreciate the positive sensations and continued sexual possibilities that will create a fulfilling sex life, without pain.
