Psycho-Sexual Care
Psychological Counseling & Evaluation
Women and girls living with female genital mutilation (FGM/C) are more likely to experience psychological problems than women without FGM/C. these women may need additional care as well as psychological support, when seeking consultations to correct complications of FGM.
Recent WHO guidelines recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or somatic therapy for women and girls experiencing anxiety disorders, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Guidelines also suggest that preoperative counselling for de-infibulation, and psychological support alongside surgical interventions, can help women manage the physiological and psychological changes following surgery.
Understanding women's pains, desires, social and cultural factors that influence women's mental well-being, may help identify the types of interventions they may need at different stages of their lives.
We focus on tailoring every woman’s treatment to her own individual needs. Psycho-sexual care is paramount in the treatment of women suffering from FGM. Our goal is to provide a personalized treatment system, treating each individual patient according to what she needs, whether it is Psycho-sexual support, Non-surgical therapies or Surgical restorative surgery
Sexual Education
Most women do not have an understanding of their own genitalia and how it functions. It is important for any woman to understand her body and how it works from a psycho-sexual aspect.
We help educate women, on their anatomy and the functional aspects of her genitalia so that she may better understand her body. This in itself may provide solutions to her needs and how she may be more fulfilled.
Psycho-Sexual Therapy for Trauma
Psycho-sexual disorders are found in many women suffering from FGM. Some of them include:
- Lack of self confidence
- Feeling embarrassed with partner
- Lack of sexual arousal or desire
- Feeling incomplete, not like uncut women
- Feeling uncomfortable with genitalia appearance
- Lack of sensation and sexual satisfaction
- Anxiety & Post traumatic stress disorder
- Vaginismus & dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
Most women will suffer from more than one disorder at the same time, which may result in altered Female Sexual Responce. It is essential to treat the cause of her suffering and that is exactly what we do.
We focus on patient's psycho-sexual wellbeing, by counseling and support, working with psychologists and sex therapists makes them feel more confident which enhances self esteem and quality of life. We believe in restoring all dysfunctions of a woman, not just her anatomy but her psychological and sexual well being as well.
Female Sexual Dysfunction
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent problem, afflicting approximately 40% of women, it is more typical as women age and victims of FGM, it is a progressive condition.
Common symptoms:
- diminished vaginal lubrication
- pain and discomfort during intercourse
- decreased desire, arousal and difficulty in achieving orgasm.
Female Sexual Response involves a complex interaction of physiology, emotions, experiences, lifestyle beliefs and relationships. Disruption of any component can affect sexual desire, arousal or satisfaction and treatment often involves more than one approach.
Sexual problems often develop when hormones are in flux, such as after child birth, menopause, or chronic illness, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, anxiety, depression, trauma as well as certain medications that can also contribute to sexual dysfunction.
Disorders
Sexual desire disorder: most common symptom, involves lack of sexual interest.
Sexual arousal disorder: unable to become aroused and maintain it during sexual activity. Sexual orgasmic disorder: persistent difficulty in achieving orgasm after ongoing stimulation. Sexual pain disorder: pain associated with sexual stimulation or vaginal contact (Vaginismus - Vulvodynia)
Treatment
Treatment is directed to reassurance, support and treating the cause.
Psycho-sexual counselling, support and sexual education are imperative, along with medication if necessary and other alterantive non-surgical therapies.
Women suffering from FGM may not necessarily need surgery. In these cases we offer non-surgical therapies and the use of a combination of methods may be necessary to help improve sexual function.
Consultation by appointment only
Tel: +20 1272259205
Email: restorefgm@gmail.com