Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Heratsi
Department of Sexology
Clinical Sexology
2008
Yerevan State Medical University after M.Heratsi
Department of Sexology
Clinical Sexology
Yerevan, YSMU,
2008
UDS 616.89-008.442(07)
.., ..
2008
Preface 4
Preface
The book has been written on the foreign students advice and the
aim of the book is to be of concrete assistance to future physicians, as
they deal with the day-to-day concerns of their patients in sexual matters.
The first chapters of the book discuss the psychosexual
development and male/female sexual manifestations, the other chapters
are devoted to classification of sexual disorders. The book centers on
etiology, differential diagnosis, and clinical description of sexual
dysfunctions, and consequently, it suggests effective methods of
treatment. It also covers evaluation of sexual disorders, paraphilias and
briefly some aspects of male reproductive function. The book mainly
contains factual information and, therefore, provides a very thoroughly
and carefully organized introduction to the whole of clinical sexology. It
does not restrict to clinical and therapeutic aspects, but it also includes
psychological, biological and sociological contributions. The last part of
the book presents tests related to each subject covered in the book.
The book is initially intended for medical students, and it also can
be meant for sexologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists,
sociologists and for the other specialists.
We welcome any comment, well-founded criticism, and
recommendation on the practical value of this book so that we can strive
to come even closer to realization of that objective in succeeding
editions.
Acknowledgments 5
CONTENTS 6
CONTENTS
CONTENTS 7
Enforced homosexuality....................................................125
Chapter 8 Evaluation of sexual disorders......................................................127
Chapter 9 Treatment of sexual disorders......................................................134
Psychotherapy of sexual disorders...................................................................134
1. Hypnosis...............................................................134
2. Adlerian therapy.....................................................134
3. Behavior therapy....................................................135
4. Existential therapy..................................................136
5. Gestalt therapy......................................................136
6. Person-centered therapy.........................................136
8. Psychoanalytic therapy............................................137
9. Rational-emotive and Cognitive-behavioral Therapy....138
10. Male reproductive function.......................................138
11. Transactional Analysis.............................................143
12. Sex therapy...........................................................144
Pharmacological therapy of sexual disorders...............................................144
Tests.............................................................................................................................146
Keys..............................................................................................................................156
References.................................................................................................................157
CONTENTS 8
The subject of clinical sexology and its methodological approaches 9
Psychosexual development through the life cycle 10
Chapter 2
Psychosexual development through
the life cycle
Psychosexual development is the continuing process by
which each person becomes the sexual being he or she is. At
any point in life, it represents the cumulative effects of many
forces, and it is one facet of psychological and maturational
development that is constantly being directed and shaped by
three forces simultaneously. One force is biological, including
hormonal, physiological and anatomical influences, innate
maturational timetables. A second is cultural, including social
learning in the family and influences outside the family. A third
force is intrapsychic, including normal developmental conflicts;
unconscious fantasies, conflicts and attitudes; and the
influences of all earlier experiences and emotions that help
determine how one approaches and copes with each new
biological , cultural and intrapsychic event.
The normal development of systems of a higher
organizational level depends on the successful development of
early related systems. Therefore, disruption of an early critical-
period phenomenon impairs the successful acquisition of
certain later systems.
According to Vasilchenko G. S. the development of
sexuality comprises of the following phases:
1. Prenatal phase-include the period of time from
the conception up to the delivery. At this time brain structures
of sexuality and gonads are differentiated.
2. Parapuberty (1 to 7 Years). The chief
developmental event of this period is learning core sexual
identity-the sense of being male or female. There are two
stages of this process: first children become aware of their
sexual identity and consider themselves either boys or girls.
Then increased curiosity to explore anatomical differences
between two sexes enforces admitted identity.
Psychosexual development through the life cycle 11
3. Prepuberty (7 to 13 Years). At this period the sex
he or she belongs to is fixed. Socialization in sex roles takes
place during this period corresponding to the core sexual
identity. Again two steps can be distinguished-one is the
choosing the ideal prototype of masculinity and femininity and
the other is practicing chosen stereotypes of appropriate
behavior in plays.
Prepuberty (7 to 11 Years)
This period has often been referred to as sexual latency,
because of Freuds belief that there is then an organic
diminution of sexual energy. Studies and investigation have not
support this view. There is a steady increase in the incidence of
sexual activity among children during these years.
One ego-development task that occurs in this period is
consolidating sex-appropriate sex-role preference. This started
in infancy with the beginning of core sexual identity, continued
during toddlerhood as the child experimented with the same-
sex and cross-sex identifications, and finally settled on
identification with the same-sex parent at the resolution of
Oedipal conflicts. Now the child, by attending school, is thrust
into the larger society. It is probably in these early school
years that socialization is most intense and most strongly
determines role preference. Sex-roles in the family may have
been unusual; now the child learns more of how the sexes are
treated and what is expected of them in the world outside
Psychosexual development through the life cycle 17
home. Pathogenic family attitudes can be ameliorated,
although early learning can be very refractory; family
expectations can be so powerful that a child has difficulty
learning or accepting different or broader sex-role definitions.
On the other hand, a warm and loving family can often insulate
a child from the effects of a larger social milieu that adheres
rigidly to overly restrictive sex-role stereotypes and is less
tolerant of normal but divergent interests and attitudes.
The basic acceptance of satisfaction with ones sex role-
the social expression and consequences of being male or
female- are most influenced during this period.
Sex play, if not suppressed, begins in early toddlerhood,
and it continues in the school years. But solitary or mutual
masturbation, visual or tactile curiosity about others bodies,
and imitations of adult sexual activities are almost universally
disapproved of or punished in this society.
Sexual constitution
In the sexual practice ''sexual constitution'' is aggregate
of steady biological properties, which are under the influence of
hereditary factors, condition of development at prenatal period
and early ontogenesis. It limits diapason of individual sexual
needs and defines individual resistibility to pathogenic factors
particularly considered with sexual sphere.
Psychosexual development through the life cycle 25
Table 1
Definition of female sexual constitution
Constitution
Vectors
weak middle strong
1. The age of sexual 17 and 9 and
16 15 14 13 12 11 10
libido arising later earlier
Table 2
Constitution
Vector
Weak Middle Strong
The age of 17
16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 and earlier
menarche and later
Prolonged
menstrual
Rare and
cycle Menstrual cycle
Amenorrhea episodic
disturbance, disturbance only Menstrual
or rare disturb
Regularity without some due to external Regularly function
menstrual ance of
kind of psycho-emotional disturbance
cycle menstrual
external or somatic factors
cycle
factors'
influences
The age of
first Even with using
10 years and 3-6 1-3
pregnancy _ 3-9 years 1-2 years of _
more month month
in regular contraceptives
sexual life
Grave
Toxicoses
Course of pathology of Threat abortion,
- with mild Normal course
pregnancy pregnancy grave toxicosis
course
with abortion
Psychosexual development through the life cycle 27
2.01- 2.03-
III Trochanter index 1.88 1.89-1.93 1.94-1.96 1.97-1.98 1.99 2.0
2.02 2.04
Bent
Male type
for Bent for male
IV Axillary and pubic hairy A0P0 A1P1 A2P2 Female type A3P3 with
male type
hypertrichosis
type
Absolute age - 35 31-34 26-30 21-25 18-20 15-17 12-14 11 and earlier
First orgasm
After regular
10 3-9 6-11 2-5 1 After Before sexual
sexual - 1-2 years
years years month month month CPR life
activity
VI Orgasm
15 and
Absolute age - 40 35 30 25 20 19 18-16
earlier
50-100%
After regular
10-15 5-9 1-2 6-11 2-5 1 After first sex
sexual - 3-4 years
years years years month month month intercourse
activity
Psychosexual development through the life cycle 28
Sexual manifestations
There are some sexual manifestations, each of them
occurs at the definite period of life. The same sexual
manifestation is commented differently at the different periods
of the age. For instance, masturbation and night pollution takes
place in the puberty, excesses and abstinence-in the
transitional period, conditional physiological rhythm-in the
mature sexuality, abstinences in the period of involution.
Masturbation: There are different types and forms of
masturbation, each of which has its specific meaning in
sexology.
1. frustrational pseudomasturbation
2. early prepubertal
3. Masturbation of youth hypersexual period
4. Compensator
5. perseverator-obsessive
6. imitative
Sexual history
Family, cultural, religious background concerning sex
Early sex play, education
Discovery of arousal
Initial shared experiences, same and opposite sex
Abuse, sexual or physical
Adolescence
Dating
Sexual experiences: petting, mutual orgasm, intercourse
Body image, eating disorders
Masturbation
How often, how done
Fantasies
Other sexual partners
Before present relationship (if any)
During present relationship (if any)
Feelings about sex not already discussed
Evaluation of sexual disorders 102
Likes and dislikes
Wishes and fears
What is important about sex
Orgasm
Closeness
Verbal, nonverbal communication
Feelings about partner(s) not already discussed
Male infertility
Causes of male infertility are divided into three main
groups:
1. Pre-testicular
2. Testicular
3. Post-testicular
1. Pre-testicular disorders of hypothalamuses and hypophysis
(congenital or occurred): Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism,
prolactinome, isolated deficiency of FSH, isolated deficiency of
Evaluation of sexual disorders 105
LH etc. This disorders result in impairment of spermatogenesis
regulation.
2. Testicular - two types are distinguished:
a) Chromosomal (Kline Felter syndrome Noonan syndrome,
digenesis of gonads, y-chromosome mycrodeletion syndrome)
b) No chromosomal (varicocele, hydrocele, cryptorchysm,
trauma of testis, orchitis, Sertoli-cell-only syndrome,
chemiotherapy, radiotherapy). These disorders result in the
impairment of spermatozoa production.
3. Post-testicular - common disorders, urinogenital
inflammatory processes, being passed on from infections (STI)
and immunological impairments. These disorders lead to
disturbance of motility of spermatozoa and seminal duct
opturation.
Treatment of sexual disorders 106
Treatment of sexual disorders 107
Treatment of sexual disorders 108
The intertubular space of the human testis contains the
microvasculature, the endocrine Leydig cells, nerve fibres,
macrophages, fibroblasts, further connective tissue cells and
lymph vessels.
Leydig cellsare prominent cells of the intertubular
space. They constitute groups surrounding the capillaries.
Leydig cells produce and secrete among others androgens, the
male sex hormone, the most well known of which is
testosterone. Testosterone activates the hypophyseal-testicular
axis, the masculinization of the brain and sexual behaviuor, the
initiation, processing and maintenance of spermatogenesis, the
differentiation of the male genital organs and secondary sex
characteristics.
Recent investigations elucidated that the Leydig cells
possess neuroendocrine properties in addition to their
endocrine functions. There is evidence that Leydig cells express
serotonin, different antigens characteristic for nerve cells as
well as neurohormones, neuropeptides and numerous growth
factors and their receptors.
Kinetics of spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis commences during puberty and
continues throughout life and until old age because of the
inexhaustible stem cell reservoir. An abundance of germ cells
are developed and delivered from the seminiferous tubules.
The process of spermatogenesis is highly organized:
Spermatogonia divide continuously, in part remaining
spermatogonia, in part giving rise to spermatogenesis.
Originating from dividing spermatogonia, cell groups migrate
from the basal to the adluminal position of the germinal
epithelium. Cell groups of different development are met in a
section of a seminiferous tubule and contribute to the typical
aspect of the germinal epithelium. Six of these typical aspects
were described in the human testis as "stages of
spermatogenesis".
The development of an A type spermatogonium up to
mature spermatids requires 4,6 cycles, e.g. 74 days. The
mature spermatids delivered from the germinal epithelium as
Treatment of sexual disorders 109
spermatozoa are transported through the epididymal duct
system during additional 12 days. Therefore, 86 days at the
minimum must be calculated for a complete spermatogenetic
cycle from spermatogonium to mature spermatozoa.
Spermatozoa with their unique shape are suitable for
the transport to the female gamete. For this reason the nucleus
of the spermatozoon is condensed, covered by an acrosome for
establishing contact to the female gamete and connected with
a flagellum for progressive motility.
The diameter of the head of spermatozoon is 45 m,
the diameter of the flagellum is of 12 m and the length of
the spermatozoon measures 60 m. Spermatozoa acquire their
competence of motility during the transport throughout the
epididymal ducts. Only 25% of the germ cells reach the
ejaculate and more than half of them are malformed.
Therefore, only 12% of the spermatogenetic potential is
available for reproduction.
Regulation of spermatogenesis
The process of spermatogenesis in the seminiferous
tubules is maintained by different internal and external
influences. The Leydig cells in the intertubular space secrete
testosterone and additional neuroendocrine substances and
growth factors. These hormones, transmitters and growth
factors are directed to neighbouring Leydig cells, to blood
vessels, to the lamina propria of the seminiferous tubules and
to Sertoli cells. They are involved in maintenance of the trophic
of Sertoli cells and the cells of peritubular tissue; they influence
the contractility of myofibroblasts and in that way regulate the
peristaltic movements of seminiferous tubules and the
transport of spermatozoa. They also contribute to the
regulation of blood flow in the intertubular microvasculature.
The local regulation of spermatogenesis in the testis requires
the well known extratesticular stimuli provided by the
hypothalamus and hypophysis. Pulsatile secretion of
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) of the hypothalamus
initiates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) of the
hypophysis. As a result of this stimulus Leydig cells produce
Treatment of sexual disorders 110
testosterone. Testosterone influences not only spermatogenesis
in the seminiferous tubules of the testis but is also distributed
throughout the body and provides feedback to the hypophysis
related to the secretory activity of Leydig cells. Stimulation of
Sertoli cells by the pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
is necessary for the maturation of germ cells. The Sertoli cells
itself
Secrete inhibin in the feedback mechanism directed to
the hypophysis. The extratesticular influences are a necessary
basis for the function of intratesticular regulations.
Disturbances of spermatogenesis
Proliferation and differentiation of the male germ cells
and the intratesticular and extratesticular mechanisms of
regulation of spermatogenesis can be disturbed at every level.
This may occur as a result of environmental influences or may
be due to diseases that directly or indirectly affect
spermatogenesis. In addition, different nutrive substances,
therapeutics, drugs, hormones and their metabolites, different
toxic substances or x-radiation may reduce or destroy
spermatogenesis. Finally, also a rather simple noxe as
increased temperature reduces the spermatogenetic activity of
the testis. Under these negative influences the testis answer
rather monotonuous by reduction of spermatogenesis. This
may be expressed in the reduced number of mature
spermatids, in malformation of spermatids, missing
spermiation, disturbance of meiosis, arrest of spermatogenesis
at the stage of primary spermatocytes, reduced multiplication
or apoptosis of spermatogonia. If spermatogonia survive then
spermatogenesis may be rescued. Otherwise spermatogenesis
ceases and shadows of seminiferous tubules remain.
9. Transactional Analysis
Transactional analysis focus on the clients cognitive and
behavior functioning. The therapist helps the client evaluate
their past decisions and how those decisions affect their
present life. They believe self-defeating behavior and feelings
Treatment of sexual disorders 111
can be overcome by an awareness of them.The therapist
believes that the clients personality is made up of the parent,
adult, and child. They believe that it is important for the client
to examine past decisions to help their make new and better
decisions.
18. Transsexualism is
a) inhibition of sexual desire
b) disorder of sexual orientation
c) disorder of sexual identity
d) transformation of socialization in sex roles
28. The criteria of female sexual constitution are the following besides
Tests 118
a) the age of first menstruation
b) trochanter index
c) pubic hair
d) the age of first sexual intercourse
e) the age of forming erotic libido
29. Exhibicionism is
a) touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person
b) us of nonliving objects for sexual gratification
c) expose of one's genitals to an unsuspecting stranger
d) sexual arousal at watching an unsuspecting person who is naked or
having sex.
38. Criteria for female sexual arousal disorder according to DSM-IV are
following besides
a) persistent or recurrent inability to attain, or to maintain adequate
lubrication-swelling
b) the disturbance cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty
c) deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity
d) it is not caused by a general medical condition
40. Teratospermia is
a) absence of spermatozoa
b) akinesia of spermatozoa
c) high level of degenerative spermatozoa
d) low concentration of spermatozoa
41. The main manifestations of male sexuality are the following besides
a) libido
b) erection
c) erogenous reactivity
d) ejaculation
e) orgasm
42. The main manifestations of female sexuality are the following besides
a) libido
b) erogenous reactivity
c) lubrication
d) orgiastic platform
Tests 121
e) orgasm
a) d b) c,d c) a,b d) d
43. Sexual manifestations according to age differences
a) Prepuberty 1) sexual orientation
b) Puberty 2) excesses
c) Transitional period 3) socialization in sex roles
d) Mature sexuality 4) CPR
44. Spinal center of erection
a) Th2-th4
b) L2-L4
c) S2-S4
d) Th12-L4