How does a consultation with a sexologist go and how much does it cost? [WE EXPLAIN]

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Thanks to the consultation with a sexologist, we will analyze the factors influencing the intimate life. This will make it possible to solve bed problems, physical and mental disorders related to the sexual sphere. Check what is worth knowing about a sexologist consultation and how much this service costs.

What does a sexologist do?

A doctor specializing in sexology uses knowledge from various fields. It has more than a medical basis for counseling the patient. Sexology is an interdisciplinary science and it also combines elements of psychology and sociology. Only thanks to this is a multifaceted analysis of problems related to human sexuality becomes possible.

The tasks of a sexologist include examining sexual abnormalities of a physiological or psychological basis. Men with erectile dysfunction or ejaculation or pain appearing during sex can come to him. The specialist is able to indicate the cause of decreased libido and mental barriers to sexual intercourse. What’s more, it is also consulted by people who have problems with accepting their own gender orientation.

1. Read more: Who should decide to see a sexologist?

The sexologist conducts a medical interview with the patient. Thanks to the information obtained, he can order tests or refer the patient to another doctor who will help in the diagnosis or possible identification of physiological disorders. A sexologist may also refer a patient to sexual or pharmacological therapy.

A sexologist’s advice is about building a healthy relationship in a relationship. The specialist helps even in such intimate matters as choosing the technique of intercourse that would meet the expectations of the partners. Interestingly, he can also plan training programs or more serious operations, e.g. penile prosthesis insertion.

Often, the sexologist almost plays the role of a family mediator. Thanks to his skills, he can avert a marital crisis and point to a solution to the emotional problems of the spouses that caused it. Couples in which one of the parties has deviant sexual preferences also come for sexological advice.

Which sexologist should I go to for advice?

There are three subspecialties in sexology. One of them is clinical sexology, which deals with sexual dysfunction. Clinical sexology is a discipline that is part of medicine and psychology. Doctors educated in this field treat sexuality disorders, but also deal with their pathogenesis and symptomatology.

These specialists are responsible for diagnosing sexual dysfunctions. They establish the causes of various dysfunctions, deviations and disorders of gender identity. In addition, they conduct activities aimed at sexual education. They can also conduct sexual dysfunction therapies, individual and partner therapies.

Another specialization is forensic sexology. She studies the etiology of sexual activities that conflict with the law. These specialists characterize people who commit such offenses. What’s more, they are also developing treatments for them. Sexual offenders are referred to such sexologists for advice.

Forensic sexologists treat, inter alia, perpetrators of incest and pedophilia. They develop treatment methods in terms of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Thanks to their knowledge of both biological and psychological conditions of engaging in such sexual behavior, they can determine the causes of disorders and provide appropriate advice.

The third area of ​​sexology is social sexology. This science deals with the mechanisms of creating sexuality. It focuses on the factors that make up this sphere – these are emotional, developmental and psychological factors.

Social sexologists advise, among others in private and public offices. They also work in social welfare centers, mental health clinics and clinics. Some family and marriage counseling offices also employ them.

The course of the visit to the sexologist

A visit to a sexologist is like any other medical consultation. However, before the patient enters the office, he should be prepared for the most intimate questions about the sexual sphere. Many people are not able to pass the first stage of the conversation, because sexuality is still a taboo subject.

The first meeting is to determine what health problem the patient has to deal with. The next step is to conduct a medical history, which will help to determine what the patient had previously suffered from. Then he should state whether he has suffered, for example, from chronic diseases and what medications he was taking.

The sexologist should also ask about the following:

1. the sexual orientation and gender identity of the patient;
2. mental state, i.e. current well-being, self-perception and general mood;
3. masturbation, first sexual experiences;
4. sexual relationships and relationships;
5. the patient’s approach to sexuality, beliefs influencing the perception of relationships and sex (e.g. religious or family conditions, views on morality).

The second stage of the visit begins after the interview is over. However, what it will look like depends on the specialization of the doctor. For example, a sexologist may perform a physical examination, and a psychologist may perform a psychological test. The first of the mentioned specialists may refer the patient, inter alia, to see a gynecologist and order tests:

1. laboratory tests – morphology, glucose level, cholesterol measurement, sex hormone tests and other tests, e.g. for endocrine diseases (including thyroid diseases);
2. imaging – ultrasound, EKG, magnetic resonance imaging or arteriography.

The sexologist will also suggest an appropriate form of treatment, e.g. relaxing exercises, Kegel exercises, taking hormones or psychotherapy. If it is necessary to discuss certain health or psychological issues with your partner, a specialist may suggest a joint sexologist consultation or longer therapy for couples.

1. Check: Kegel exercises – why is it worth exercising?

How much does a visit to a sexologist cost?

It depends on various factors. The cost of a visit to a sexologist ranges from PLN 120 to PLN 200, although this amount may be higher if it is a known specialist. In most cases, the patient will be responsible for the costs. Sexual benefits are reimbursed in selected clinics in Poland.

Few facilities in several provinces allow you to visit a sexologist as part of the National Health Fund (at the end of 2019, there were a total of 12 such clinics). Any specialist doctor can be the referring person. For many years, the National Health Fund treated visits to a sexologist as one of the elements of alternative medicine, although it is a practice with 30 years of experience.

What is a sexologist not allowed to do during an appointment?

The conduct of doctors is governed by the Code of Medical Ethics. Psychologists are bound by the Code of Professional Ethics and the Code of Ethics of the Word Association For Sexology. What does this mean in practice? Well, a specialist cannot use techniques that are not scientifically justified. He should base his practice on science, not his own beliefs.

The sexologist should adhere to the current classification of disorders and diseases. He cannot judge them through the prism of his own beliefs. Even if he does not consider, for example, homosexuality to be rooted in human biology, it is inadvisable for him to persuade such a patient to change his sexual orientation.

Everything that is said during the visit is the sexologist’s responsibility to keep to himself. He is bound by professional secrecy. Revealing it is allowed only when there is a threat to the patient’s life and health. In addition, the specialist cannot participate in the patient’s intimate experiences, such as masturbation training.

What advice do sexologists, doctors and psychologists give?

A sexologist is a psychologist who deals with solving problems originating in the psyche. In turn, the sexologist treats diseases related to the physiological sphere. The latter include, among others erectile dysfunction associated with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

However, in some situations, the patient may need to seek advice from a sexologist, a doctor, and a sexologist, psychologist. It is worth considering the nature of the problem and only then choose the right specialist. Sometimes a sexologist psychologist may order an appointment with a gynecologist or a neurologist.

How to recognize a professional sexologist?

When determining which sexologist to go to, it is worth starting by checking the person’s competence. The specialist should have a certificate of a clinical sexologist from the Polish Sexological Society. This will confirm that you have completed professional training and not just a course. Moreover, the presence of a certificate is a sign that his work is being supervised.

At least 150 sexologists work in Poland (data from 2011). A list of such facilities can be found in the provincial branches of the National Health Fund, which have contracts signed with them. However, it is also possible to use the services of a sexologist running a private office.

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