Purna Kasuri (name changed on request), a Moradabad-based housewife, is fighting a silent battle. Her husband suffers from various problems related to her sexual health, including low libido, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation. In a country where even mentioning the word “sex” is taboo, Kasuri said that even after 10 years of marriage, she has not been able to discuss her problems with a gynecologist. Ta. She is also unaware that there are professionals trained to discuss such issues and find solutions.
Katuri is not alone. According to a report released in October last year by Bengaluru-based women's healthcare startup Elda Health, up to 24% of women have sexual health concerns but don't seek help. Only 6% of them are. Similarly, while 40% of menopausal women experience hot flashes, a surprising 70% report mental health problems such as mood swings, anger, and sadness. Masu. However, only 2% of people suffering from mental health problems seek professional help.
Dr Prateek Makwana, consultant embryologist and director of Vasundhara Hospital, Jodhpur, says infertility is a very sensitive topic and most people are finally starting to see it as a medical condition. However, sexual dysfunction remains a taboo and a common condition among men and women in India. In contrast to people in other countries such as the US and UK, where sexology is an established profession, most people in India refrain from open discussion of such issues.
“It is clear to everyone that there is growing awareness and acceptance of these issues in Europe and America, along with research to improve the situation. We are still creating a safer space to talk about it,” says Makwana, who is also director of Vasundhara IVF (Jaipur, Bikaner and Lucknow).
sex education is key
In the medical world, topics such as reproduction, gynecology, and andrology are often discussed in conversations about sexual health, but sexual behavior, emotions and interactions, sexual orientation and gender identity, sexual expression, and human You need to know that there are a wide range of other issues, such as relationships. , and even joy.
In this situation, sex education becomes important. Unfortunately, sex education is not featured in many mainstream medical curricula worldwide. Even in India, unlike sexual medicine such as gynecology and urology, sexual medicine is not yet recognized as a specialized field. “This does not change the fact that India deals with sexual health concerns with the same frequency as other countries with similar populations. Moreover, sex education is being kept away from the educational curriculum of schools and universities. States like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have gone so far as to ban sex education,” says sex educator Artika Singh.
Singh's Allo Health is a health tech startup specializing in sexual health and wellness concerns, with a team of over 35 doctors and psychologists offering treatments online and through clinics in Bangalore, Delhi, and Gurugram. We have facilitated over 30,000 consultations related to health concerns and issues. and Mysore.
In a welcome change, many physicians are beginning to take on the responsibility of speaking on a personal level, in their work and community engagement activities, about topics that normally fall under sex education. “You may come across doctors who cover specific topics like contraception, safer sex, sexually transmitted diseases, or other topics that doctors use their existing networks and platforms to talk about. It includes a number of different topics that do not require any medical intervention at all, such as reducing abuse, increasing pleasure, etc. To teach these topics wisely, gender We need to develop an approach that includes people and age groups,” adds Singh.
According to a sex education survey conducted by Aro Health last year among 8,625 participants in India, a significant 72.41% had not received any form of sex education during their school or college years. In the absence of structured sex education in India, people are turning to alternative means to gain knowledge about sex and sexuality. A whopping 57.32% of respondents admitted to using pornography (both videos and literature) as a source of sex education.
become intimate
Sex therapy is a fairly new profession and a developing industry, but it is establishing itself in this country. “People are more open to coaches because they want help specific to their problems and don't want to consult a doctor. The value proposition of this industry is attractive: pleasure and sex are good for you and relaxing. Relaxing keeps you healthy and makes you more productive,” says intimacy coach Airi Segetti, founder of Intimacy Curator, an organization that promotes self-discovery through emotional and sexual well-being. .
Segetti said sex therapists address conditions such as sexual trauma and erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and vaginismus, working with urologists, dermatologists, gynecologists and pelvic floor specialists to determine the physiological causes. eliminate. “But lifestyle and intimacy coaches in India don't do touch or physical work unless they're medical doctors like pelvic floor specialists or urologists. They use more conversation-based coaching.” she added.
Pallavi Barnwal, another intimacy coach and founder of sexual wellness startup Get Intimacy, also feels that unlike in the West, sexual wellness is not recognized as a multifaceted and diverse field in India. . “In the West, there are practicing sex educators, counselors and sex therapists.
Sex education, sexuality counseling, and sex therapy are three distinct fields and specialties. Educators primarily conduct workshops, teach sex education, and plan and facilitate seminars. Counselors work in clinical or medical settings and provide specific suggestions and advice. Therapists work with couples, singles, and individuals on a variety of sex-related issues. “Each of these areas requires unique skills and knowledge,” Barnwal adds. In India, sexology refers to reproduction and physiology, mainly focusing on reproductive organs and reproductive organs.
Over the years, many counselors have gained popularity on social media, especially during the pandemic. Neha Mehta, a sex counselor with over 449,000 followers on Instagram, is one of them. “Many of us started coming forward and talking about this on social media because it was needed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the trend towards online participation started, we Consultations have gone online and the need to come and talk online has become essential. As a caregiver for couples who are afraid to even go to the doctor and don't talk about it publicly, coaches are encouraged to take certification courses. Psychologists, on the other hand, complete a diploma under a psychiatrist or complete an internship or fellowship of at least six months in order to practice,” she added.
Barnwal, who has 239,000 followers on Instagram, sees a huge demand for sex counseling and education-related services, especially with the rise of dual-income households, the Instagram-savvy generation and individualization. Consultation fees for sex counselors range from ¥4,000 to ¥21,000, depending on the number of sessions.
