Fertility Counseling Services

The Fertility Counseling Service is a service provided to those couples and individuals who are going through or thinking of undergoing any of the various forms of fertility treatments. It is there to aid you at any point whether it is prior to you making the decision to undergo treatment, during or after treatment.

Fertility counseling may be specifically beneficial following an unsuccessful cycle or miscarriage, or to assist you to think through decisions about stopping treatment. Anyone considering egg/sperm (or embryo) donation or planning surrogacy is strongly recommended to have fertility counseling to help them consider the implications for themselves and their future child in the short and long-term. A momentous amount of stress, anxiety and depression builds up in couples due to infertility issues. Reaction from men and women differs in terms of time and level of commitment towards the subject of infertility. In most of the cases, the couples are fenced in with the fertility of their family, friends and colleagues. The treatment of infertility is pretty time and money consuming that makes it rigid for the working couples to fix their schedules in accordance with the clinic visits, given the strict working hour is concerned.

Most of the young couples those who are going for infertility treatment have their goals set and are considerably successful in their lives, respectively. However, it is being noticed that maximum number of couples believe in the existence of God, and in this case particularly their prayers are not answered.

A detailed study on women prior to commencing an IVF or ICSI cycle, clearly shows the interrelation between the threshold of stress in the women and various parameters contingent to the IVF procedure like the number of oocytes retrieved, percentage fertilized, pregnancy rates and live birth rates.

The power of the interrelation between distress and pregnancy was potent and subjects who expressed the minimum baseline level of distress were 93% more likely to give birth than the patients who reported the maximum baseline of distress.

The greater part of research does prove that stress decreases the effectiveness of ART. The down-right mechanism of action however is unidentified.

The other significant disadvantage of being highly stressed and depressed is that the chance of the couple abandoning the IVF program after a single cycle failure is extremely high. This very obviously restricts a couple’s ability to get pregnant.

One of the most effective ways to mark down growing stress during IVF treatment is in the form of counseling by the IVF clinic staff. This counseling is more effective when it is personalized and involves plenty of attention and support.

It has been found beneficial for couples to include stress management system, life style modification and other relaxation methods into their daily life during IVF treatment. A support group comprising of other couples seeking similar treatment might be of great help.

It is up-to the doctor and the couple to plan out different strategies that could finally work best for each couple. It is essential to stay relaxed, calm and realistic. This is the most adequate way by which a couple could gain a pregnancy, go through the ups and downs of IVF cycles with tranquility and not deviate from their purpose of achieving parenthood through ART.

At Manipal Fertility, we offer you an `open door` to our fertility clinic patients. Counseling is offered as a free, confidential service to all of our patients before, during and after fertility treatment. All couples and individuals undergoing fertility treatment using donor eggs, sperm or embryos as well as egg and sperm donors routinely see one of our counselors to know more about the legal, social and ethical issues surrounding treatment.

Mostly when people think of yoga, they relate it with the added benefits of agility and view it as a process for losing weight and maintaining a slim physique. The matter of fact is, yoga has several other benefits apart from flexibility and toning. Yoga has numerous health benefits as well, alongside improving fertility and allowing your body to prepare for pregnancy. There are various methods of yoga and a myriad number of yoga poses that a person can practice. Each yoga posture not only helps you to toughen your body and mind, but also to reclaim balance in your body as well. Not only a physical and mental deftness, but an overall equivalence between all of your body’s functions, including your reproductive system.

Fertility yoga applies vital yoga poses that help to nurture, sustain and strengthen the endocrine and the reproductive system. Your endocrine system is important for decent hormonal balance, so using fertility yoga poses that enhance healthy endocrine function is just as essential as using poses that support the reproductive system as well.

There are a number of different benefits that your body can experience from performing fertility yoga. By practicing these poses, you help to raise the energy flow through your body which advances the function of the endocrine and reproductive system. Fertility yoga, rather all yoga, helps the body to maintain homeostasis, which is indispensable for the body to operate correctly. Fertility yoga has a particular series of stretches that have an affirmative effect on reproductive health. Every posture in this series has an aiding and nurturing effect on the reproductive system or the endocrine system – the hormonal headquarters. Practice fertility yoga in conjunction with a complete natural fertility program for the best results.

Fertility yoga provides many benefits to your health when you are anticipating for conception. Some of the benefits are:

Helps `revamp` your endocrine system by aiding in hormonal balance

May help release adhesions and blockages in the reproductive areas

Boosts circulation to the reproductive system

Heightens the immune system and supports the body in detoxifying

Brings peace and vitality to your conception journey

Builds an environme

For some men, being stressed may just make you irritable, but for others, too much stress can cause sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction. For these men, learning to relax and ease stress is all that may be needed to treat ED.

1.Jacobson’s relaxation technique, also known as progressive relaxation therapy, is a type of therapy that focuses on tightening and relaxing specific muscle groups in sequence. By concentrating on specific areas and tensing and then relaxing them, you can become more aware of your body and physical sensations. General instructions for Jacobson’s technique involve tightening one muscle group while keeping the rest of the body relaxed, and then releasing the tension.

2.Rhythmic breathing: If your breathing is short and hurried, slow it down by taking long, slow breaths. Inhale slowly then exhale slowly. Count slowly to five as you inhale, and then count slowly to five as you exhale. As you exhale slowly, pay attention to how your body naturally relaxes. Recognizing this change will help you to relax even more.

3.Deep breathing: Imagine a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot, filling your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you from the abdomen up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every long, slow exhalation, you should feel more relaxed.

4.Visualized breathing: Find a comfortable place where you can close your eyes and combine slowed breathing with your imagination. Picture relaxation entering your body and tension leaving your body. Breathe deeply, but in a natural rhythm. Visualize your breath coming into your nostrils, going into the lungs and expanding the chest and abdomen. Then, visualize your breath going out the same way. Continue breathing, but each time you inhale, imagine that you are breathing in more relaxation. Each time you exhale imagine that you are getting rid of a little more tension.

5.Progressive muscle relaxation: Switch your thoughts to yourself and your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly. Mentally scan your body. Notice areas that feel tense or cramped. Quickly loosen up these areas. Let go of as much tension as you can. Rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion once or twice (Stop any movements that cause pain). Roll your shoulders forward and backward several times. Let all of your muscles completely relax. Recall a pleasant thought for a few seconds. Take another deep breath and exhale slowly. You should feel relaxed.

6.Relax to music: Combine relaxation exercises with your favorite music in the background. Select the type of music that lifts your mood or that you find soothing or calming. Some people find it easier to relax while listening to specially designed relaxation audio tapes, which provide music and relaxation instructions.

7.Mental imagery relaxation: Mental imagery relaxation, or guided imagery, is a proven form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between the mind and body. Guided imagery coaches you in creating calm, peaceful images in your mind — a “mental escape.” Identify self-talk, that is, what you say to yourself about any problems you have. It is important to identify negative self-talk and develop healthy, positive self-talk. By making affirmations, you can counteract negative thoughts and emotions. Here are some positive statements you can practice.

Acupuncture comprises of gentle insertion and stimulation of thin, disposable sterile needles at strategic points near the surface of the body. Over 2,000 acupuncture points are present in the human body that connects with 14 major pathways, called meridians. Chinese medicine practitioners believe that these meridians conduct qi, or energy, between the surface of the body and internal organs. It is qi that regulates spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance. When the flow of qi is rattled through poor health habits or other elements, it can result in pain and/or disease. Acupuncture helps to keep the normal flow of this energy unblocked, thereby proliferating a couple’s chances of conceiving.
Acupuncture can maximize fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system, according to many studies and medical research. The intention of fertility treatments from a Chinese Medicine prospect is not just to get pregnant, but to give birth to a healthy baby. Among many other benefits, acupuncture can provide better blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, constituting a substantial chance for an egg to be nourished and carried to term.

Acupuncture infertility treatment can mend almost every cause of this hurdle. While 40% of infertility is caused by crunch in the female, another 40 percent is caused by problems in the male, such as low sperm count or motility. The cause of female infertility roots from issues such as anovulation and endometriosis. The remaining 20% is caused by unidentified factors.

When people deal with stress, the hormone cortisol is released in the brain. This mutates the brain’s neurochemical balance, thus changing hormone levels and disassembling the pituitary balance that is the door to the reproductive cycle. Because of the delicate balance between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and reproductive glands, stress can prevent a woman from ovulating completely. This can administer to the cause of female infertility. Stress can also generate spasms in both the fallopian tubes and the uterus, which can hinder with movement and implantation of a fertilized egg. In men, stress can alter sperm counts, motility, and cause impotence. Acupuncture infertility treatment counters the effects of stress and cortisol by releasing endorphins in the brain. Herbal impotence cure is also a choice for men and can reduce stress.

Hormonal equivalence does not have to be rummaged by cortisol to cause infertility. The most common cause of female infertility is an ovulation disorder, in which the release of a mature egg from the ovary is prevented, usually because of a hormonal imbalance. Without sufficient progesterone, for example, the fetus is unable to latch onto the uterus. High levels of prolactin, the hormone that triggers the production of breast milk, can also prevent ovulation.

Acupuncture can help with much more than just conception. It can help with morning sickness, nausea, aches and pains, anxiety preparation for birth, and insomnia, among many others.
Acupuncture infertility treatment comprises of zero side effects while performing the similar function as fertility drugs do.

The aim of Sensate Focus is to build trust and intimacy within your relationship, helping you to give and receive pleasure. It emphasizes positive emotions, physical feelings and responses while reducing any negative reactions. The program can help overcome any fear of failure that may have existed previously, building a more satisfying sexual relationship in which both partners feel able to ask for what they want and are able to give and receive pleasure. Continuous reinforcement is needed to overcome negative reactions to intimacy. How long you spend on the program is up to you. Typically, sessions last twenty to sixty minutes, two to three times a week, spread over six or more weeks

• Did you know that there are specific nutrients that are needed by the young fetus before you can even detect pregnancy? And a deficiency in these nutrients could cause serious birth defects?
• Did you know that the food you eat today impact the health of your eggs and sperms 90 days from now?
• Did you know that hormones build themselves from the ingredients you provide through your diet?
• Did you know that the number one treatment for balancing PCOS and getting pregnant despite it, is diet?
• Did you know that what you do not eat is just as important as what you do eat?
• Did you know that the number one cause of infertility (anovulation- lack of ovulation) can many times be remedied by changes in the diet?

Eating a natural fertility diet is something everyone can do irrespective of their location, fertility issue, age, time and money. So, eat in a way that supports your fertility and reap the benefits of your diet.

The natural fertility diet suggestions are a conglomeration of scientific research, nutritional data, dietary practices of the most fertile tribes and people in history, as well as dietary regimes which are known to reduce complications during pregnancy.

Women who followed a blend of five or more lifestyle aspects, including altering specific aspects of their diets, experienced more than 80% less relative risk of infertility due to ovulatory disorders compared to women who engaged in none of the factors.

Women with the highest fertility diet scores ate less trans fats and sugars from carbohydrates, consumed more protein from vegetables than from animals, ate more fiber and iron, took more multivitamins, had a lower body mass index (BMI), exercised every day and, surprisingly, consumed more high-fat dairy products and less low-fat dairy products. The connection between a high fertility diet and lesser risk for infertility was identical for different subgroups of women heedless of age and whether or not they had been pregnant in the past.

Natural nutritional practices help nourish and feed the body. When the body is optimally nourished and when unhealthy food items are avoided, our body is capable of repairing and rebuilding itself. This is very beneficial for fertility, especially if there is an underlying imbalance or fertility issue. The cells in the body are constantly dying and new cells are being created to replace the old cells. The building blocks of these new cells are found in the food items that you are consuming. So the Natural Fertility Diet is also designed to help support a healthy body which in turn can heal itself and create healthier cells.

• Provides antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that helps to protect egg and sperm health from the damage caused by free-radicals
  Maintains hormonal balance by providing the fats needed for hormone production and function
• Provides the body with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients needed for optimal health
• May decrease chances of a miscarriage due to insulin resistance and damage done by free radicals to eggs and sperms
• Helps to build important nutrient stores for pregnancy
• Supports a healthy reproductive system
• Promotes energy and vitality

The efficiency of directed masturbation as an adjunct to the treatment of primary orgasmic dysfunction was evaluated. The directed masturbation procedure consists of a gradual series of assignments that are to be practiced by the patient. The test of the effectiveness of directed masturbation is conducted with couples who have not benefited from a sexual treatment program modeled after that of Masters and Johnson. The results have indicated that directed masturbation holds promise as an effective adjunct to sexual counseling.

Studies suggest a complex relationship between cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy for the combined treatment of sexual disorders. Combined treatment should not be considered the default treatment for sexual disorders. Instead, decisions whether combined treatment is worth the added cost and effort should be made in relation to the disorder under treatment, the level of severity or chronicity, and the stage of treatment.

Pre-IVF and Pre-IUI counselling is essential to couples going for the IVF and IUI programme. Pre-IVF and Pre-IUI counselling can be done at our clinic prior to starting the programme. Psychological counselling is offered to all couples considering an IVF and IUI programme, as there are many important issues to be considered in the psychological welfare of the couple during what can be an extremely emotional and stressful time in their lives.

Post IUI and IVF grief counselling is given to patients with failed treatments. This is essential to maintain their confidence and restore hope for second opinion option

Supportive Psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that concentrates on creating an effective means of communication with an emotionally disturbed person rather than on trying to produce psychological insight into the underlying conflicts. Through such supportive measures as reassurance, reinforcement of the person’s defenses, direction, suggestion and persuasion, the therapist participates directly in the solution of specific problems.

Psychoeducation refers to the education offered to individuals with a mental health condition and their families to help empower them and deal with their condition in an optimal way. Sex therapy is a strategy for the treatment of sexual dysfunction when there is no medical etiology (physiological reason) or as a complement to medical treatment. The sexual dysfunctions which may be addressed by sex therapy include non-consummation, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, low libido, unwanted sexual fetishes, sexual addiction, painful sex, or a lack of sexual confidence, assisting people who are recovering from sexual assault, problems commonly caused by stress, tiredness, and other environmental and relationship factors. Sex therapists assist those experiencing problems in overcoming them and in doing so, possibly help them in regaining an active sex life.

An addiction to masturbation and sex can be both physically and emotionally harmful to a person and their loved ones. Due to the amount of time and energy spent on masturbation and sex, genital injury is common. Additionally, an addiction to masturbation and sex can make intimate relationships difficult and hinder people from seeking out intimacy. Masturbation and sex addiction is a real problem regardless of morality. There are certainly many points of view regarding the morality or acceptability of masturbation. A professional sex therapist does not impose morality in the treatment of masturbation and sex addiction. It is the role of the therapist to honor a client’s personal morality while working with the client to reduce shame and explore healthy sexuality. For a masturbation and sex addict, a period of abstinence is recommended under the supervision of a trained therapist.

In addition to psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy is an important treatment option for paraphilias, especially in sexual offenders. Cyproterone Acetate (CPA) and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA) are commonly used but can have serious side effects. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) may also be effective in less severe cases. Recent research shows that Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) agonists may offer a new treatment option for treatment of paraphilic patients.

Study reveals that many substances like alcohol, cannabis etc. on a long term basis cause sexual dysfunction. There are effective therapies and both psychological and pharmacological interventions are helpful in achieving remission and attaining good sexual health. Drugs will be used for the treatment of this condition along with counselling. It has been found that only a very minute number of patients with this condition can be treated by using counselling alone. Therefore, psychotherapeutic techniques will always be used as an adjunct to medications during the treatment procedure.

Sildenafil is a nitric oxide enhancer that facilitates the inflow of blood to the penis necessary for an erection. The drug takes effect about 1 hour after ingestion, and its effect can last up to 4 hours. Sildenafil is not effective in the absence of sexual stimulation. The most common adverse events associated with its use are headaches, flushing, and dyspepsia. Sildenafil is not effective in all cases of erectile dysfunction. It fails to produce an erection rigid enough for penetration in about 50 percent of men.
Sildenafil use in women results in vaginal lubrication, but not in increased desire. Anecdotal reports, however, describe individual women who have experienced intensified excitement with sildenafil.

Tadalafil and udalafil are the drugs which act in aoral phentolamine and apomorphine are not US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved at present, but have proved effective as potency enhancers in men with minimal erectile dysfunction. Phentolamine reduces sympathetic tone and relaxes corporeal smooth muscle. Adverse events include hypotension, tachycardia, and dizziness. Apomorphine effects are mediated by the autonomic nervous system and result in vasodilatation that facilitates the inflow of blood to the penis. Adverse events include nausea and sweating.

Injectable and transurethral alprostadil act locally on the penis and can produce erections in the absence of sexual stimulation. Alprostadil contains a naturally occurring form of prostaglandin E, a vasodilating agent. Alprostadil may be administered by direct injection into the corpora cavernosa or by intraurethral insertion of a pellet through a canula. The firm erection produced within 2 to 3 minutes after administration of the drug may last as long as 1 hour. Infrequent and reversible adverse effects of injections include penile bruising and changes in liver function test results. Possible hazardous sequelae exist, including priapism and sclerosis of the small veins of the penis. Users of transurethral alprostadil sometimes complain of burning sensations in the penis.

Intravenous methohexital sodium has been used in desensitization therapy. Anti-anxiety agents may have some application in tense patients, although these drugs can also interfere with the sexual response. The side effects of antidepressants, in particular the SSRIs and tricyclic drugs, have been used to prolong the sexual response in patients with premature ejaculation.
Bromocriptine is used in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia, which is frequently associated with hypogonadism. Dopaminergic agents have been reported to increase libido and improve sex function. These drugs include L-dopa, a dopamine precursor, and bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist. The antidepressant bupropion has dopaminergic effects and has increased sex drive in some patients. Selegiline, an MAOI, is selective for MAOB and is dopaminergic. It improves sexual functioning in older persons.

Androgens increase the sex drive in women and in men with low testosterone concentrations. Women may experience virilizing effects, some of which are irreversible (e.g., deepening of the voice). In men, prolonged use of androgens produces hypertension and prostatic enlargement. Testosterone is most effective when given parenterally; however, effective oral and transdermal preparations are available.

Women who use estrogens for replacement therapy or for contraception may report decreased libido. In such cases, a combined preparation of estrogen and testosterone has been used effectively. Estrogen itself prevents thinning of the vaginal mucous membrane and facilitates lubrication. Two new forms of estrogen, vaginal rings and vaginal tablets, provide alternate administration routes to treat women with arousal problems or genital atrophy. Because tablets and rings do not significantly increase circulating estrogen levels, these devices may be considered for patients with breast cancer with arousal problems.

In male patients with arteriosclerosis (especially of the distal aorta, known as Leriche’s syndrome), the erection may be lost during active pelvic thrusting. The need for increased blood in the gluteal muscles and others served by the ilial or hypogastric arteries takes blood away (steals) from the pudendal artery and, thus, interferes with penile blood flow. Relief may be obtained by decreasing pelvic thrusting, which is also aided by the woman’s superior coital position.

Vacuum pumps are mechanical devices that patients without vascular disease can use to obtain erections. The blood drawn into the penis following the creation of the vacuum is kept there by a ring placed around the base of the penis. This device has no adverse effects, but it is cumbersome, and partners must be willing to accept its use. Some women complain that the penis is redder and cooler than when erection is produced by natural circumstances, and they find the process and the result objectionable.

Surgical treatment is infrequently advocated, but penile prosthetic devices are available for men with inadequate erectile responses who are resistant to other treatment methods or who have medically caused deficiencies. The two main types of prosthesis are (1) a semi-rigid rod prosthesis that produces a permanent erection that can be positioned close to the body for concealment and (2) an inflatable type that is implanted with its own reservoir and pump for inflation and deflation. The latter type is designed to mimic normal physiological functioning.

Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.

Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.

Sex therapy and sex counselling are two terms that really mean the same thing. Sex therapy is a specialized form of counselling for people which focuses on sexual issues, most often for individuals in relationships (although you do not need to be in a relationship to seek sex therapy).A sex therapist will try to help you develop a clearly defined issue and the goal of therapy will be to work on that issue and resolve it, or find a way to make whatever problems it causes have less of an impact on your life and sex life. Commonly sex therapy will focus on a sexual dysfunction or major sexual communication problems between partners. Sex therapy is usually directive. Sex therapists will be active, asking questions and often giving direct suggestions, homework exercises, and information in an effort to support your goals for the therapy.

The first step in sex therapy is evaluating and assessing the presenting problem or problems. A sexual history is taken which asks the patient to describe his/her sexual experiences. If it is a couple, each partner’s sexual history is taken. (Any information you give or conversation you have with your sex therapist will remain strictly confidential).The therapist carefully analyses the medical and historical data, together with any issues or related circumstances described by the you to identify all the strands that weave into the current condition. This evaluation results in a diagnosis and detailed treatment plan. The treatment will vary depending on the issue, but it usually involves special exercises for each individual or couple. Sex therapy is not “just talking.” Each week the therapist will suggest new experiences for the individual or couple to try in the privacy of their home. These at-home exercises are designed to take the pressure and worry out of sex. In subsequent sessions, the at-home exercises are discussed and any difficulties are explored. The exercises help the individual or couple “re-learn” more satisfying sexual behaviour. The therapist functions as a sex educator, providing accurate information about anatomy, physical response that is specific to the client’s sexual concern. The clients may be suggested books to read or educational videos to watch.

People of all ages, sexual orientations, genders, religions, and ethnicities may choose to seek the help of sex therapists. Sex therapy is appropriate for:
1. Individuals wanting to deal with sexual identity issues.
2.Couples wanting to increase sexual intimacy
3.People who want to deal with sexual inhibitions
4.People who are dissatisfied with their sexual functioning
5.Couples wanting to increase their communication about sexuality
There is no one “type” of person who goes to sex therapy and there are many more reasons to see a sex therapist than those mentioned above.

Generally a sex therapist should be chosen over a general psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other helping professional, when the issues are very specifically sex related, or when sexuality seems like a central part of the issue. Some examples of issues that bring people to sex therapy are:
1.Sexual trauma
2.Lack of orgasm
3.Difficulties with erections or ejaculation
4.Problems with differing levels of desire in a couple
5.Difficulties resulting from infidelities
6.Sexual concerns as a result of illness or surgery
This list is not exhaustive, and if you think you are interested in talking with a sex therapist, most will spend at least a short time on the phone with you to determine whether or not they are the appropriate person to be meeting with.

There is no one way of knowing when to seek professional help or support for sexual problems. The right time to do that is whenever it is right for you. If you are single and feel there are specific sexual concerns or issues that you can’t figure out on your own or work through with the support of friends or family, then trying to work with a sex therapist can be a helpful new way to approach the issues. Additionally people find the confidentiality offered by a sex therapist a more comfortable environment to approach these issues. If you are in a relationship the decision about when to see a sex therapist might be a bit more complicated. Does your partner also feel that seeing a sex therapist is a positive step in resolving sexual issues or concerns? Are you planning on going together, or are you interested in going on your own? An ethical sex therapist will suggest having an initial consultation, and if they feel that sex therapy isn’t going to be helpful they will, or should, let you know. Sex therapy isn’t necessarily for crisis management (although it might do that as well) and even if there are parts of your sexual relationship you are happy with, if you feel that you could benefit from some support, education, information, or counselling from a professional who is trained in the area of human sexuality, then exploring sex therapy as an option is perfectly reasonable.

If a couple is interested in sex therapy they will probably have to go to therapy together. But if you are the one interested in therapy, and you would prefer to have an initial session on your own, there is nothing wrong with starting the process this way. Depending on where the therapy goes, you may or may not bring in your partner at a later time.

We don’t share information from or about you, unless we think that someone is at risk of serious harm. In this instance, we would seek to discuss it with you first.