Sexology as a challenge to the health care system: the Norwegian version

Medical doctors and psychologist represent the largest groups of professionals working with sexological problems in Norway, with one third each. The last third consists of different health and educational professionals. Forty-three percent reported that they have undergone some training programs in sexology. This is the lowest educational level in all the countries surveyed in the context of the "Euro-Sexo" study. Seventy-one percent declared that they have had individual supervision and 49% had group supervision in sexology. 93.2% are in clinical practice, but for most of them, this is a minor part of their professional activity. Seventy-one percent reported that sexological activity represents less than 25% of their professional time. Gender differences are minor. Three percent work with sexology full time, all of these are women, and none are medical doctors. Not surprisingly, problems with orgasm (42.95) and sexual desire (60.7%) are among the most frequent problems presented among female clients, while erectile dysfunction (47.3%) is the most frequent problem among male clients. Emotional problems in the couple relationship is among the most frequent problem reported, 35% among male and 63% among female clients. The respondents also reported problems related to sexual violence or abuse, 18.1% among male and 42.9% among female clients. Thirty percent reported genital pain among their female clients. Sexological problems represent a substantial area of the clinical work for many therapists. Medical doctors represent an important part of the therapeutic field, while sexology is a less than a minor part of medical education, both pre and post graduate. Psychotherapy was reported as the most frequent treatment used by sexologists

The experience of sexuality among French young adults: between wandering and married life

This qualitative study was carried out with 24 French students, ages between 18 and 22 years. During this transitional period of their lives, young adults experience a sexual and affective wandering phase, and at the same time, aspire to an ideal married life. Sexual and affective wandering refers to the experience and its meaning for the most part of those interviewed. A married life or establishment of a monogamous stable relationship is the ideal aspired by the majority of men and women interviewed. Sexuality is experienced, throughout this transitional period, as a sometimes difficult and confusing experience of initiation that aims the construction of the self, and in the long term, the construction of the couple, beyond multiple "recreational" experiences.Este estudio se basa en una investigación cualitativa realizada con 24 estudiantes franceses de 18 a 22 años. En este periodo de transición de sus vidas, los muchachos y las muchachas atraviesan una fase de errancia, de experimentación afectiva y sexual, al mismo tiempo aspirando a un ideal de vida en pareja. La errancia sexual y afectiva constituye la práctica y el sentido dado a su experiencia para una importante parte de las personas entrevistadas. La vida en pareja o, el establecimiento de una relación de pareja monogámica y estable, constituye el ideal de la mayoría de los hombres y de las mujeres entrevistadas. La sexualidad es vivida, a lo largo de este período de transición, como una experiencia de iniciación, a veces difícil o confusa e tiene por objeto la construcción de si y, más a largo plazo, de la pareja, más que una multiplicación de experiencias "recreativas".Este estudo se baseia em uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 24 estudantes franceses de 18 a 22 anos. No período de transição de suas vidas, rapazes e moças atravessam uma fase de errância, de experimentação afetiva e sexual, ao mesmo tempo em que aspiram a um ideal de vida conjugal. A errância sexual e afetiva constitui a prática e o sentido dados à sua experiência para uma importante parte das pessoas entrevistadas. A vida conjugal ou o estabelecimento de uma relação de casal monogâmica e estável constitui o ideal da maioria dos homens e mulheres entrevistados. A sexualidade é vivida, ao longo desse período de transição, como uma experiência de iniciação, às vezes difícil ou confusa e visa a construção de si e, mais a longo termo, do casal, mais que a uma multiplicação de experiências "recreativas"

Controverses dans les prises en charge des situations trans : une ethnographie des conférences médico-scientifiques.

International audienc

Representations of people living with HIV: influences on the late diagnosis of infection

Objective: To analyze the representations constructed by people living with HIV on the infection and their influence on the late search for diagnosis. Method: A qualitative study, conducted through an open interview with people who had a late diagnosis of HIV infection. The theoretical framework adopted was the Theory of Social Representations based on a critical approach. For data analysis, was used the Structural Analysis of Narration method and the MAXQDA 12® software. Results: Eighteen people participated in the study. The following original representations were unveiled: AIDS as a transmissible and dangerous disease; disease of the other; severe, incurable and deadly disease; and denial of risk due to trust in a steady partner. These representations contributed to the late search for diagnosis, either because of the attitude of distance from susceptible people, or because they did not perceive or deny the risks to which they were exposed in their life trajectories. Conclusion: Understanding the reasons that lead people to a late diagnosis of HIV is imperative in the current epidemic scenario for the planning and implementation of new strategies and policies for the timely diagnosis of the infection

Vivencia de la sexualidad después del cáncer de mama: estudio cualitativo con mujeres en rehabilitación

OBJECTIVE: to comprehend the psychosocial and cultural repercussions of breast cancer and its treatment on the sexuality of women. METHOD: this is a qualitative study grounded in the Sexual Scripts Theory with the participation of 23 women who were interviewed and participated in focus groups discussion. RESULTS: each category was related to a level of the sexual scripts. At the cultural scenario level a discourse on sexuality that includes definitions of sexual attractiveness and sexuality was highlighted. The interpersonal scripts level focused on the communication regarding sexuality established with the partner and with healthcare professionals category; and at the subjectivity scripts level the reports of improvement, deterioration and no change in the sexual life after cancer were analyzed. CONCLUSION: the experience of cancer involves cultural, relational, and subjective aspects that affect the sexual life, therefore, healthcare professionals should be aware of them to improve integral healthcare.OBJETIVO: comprender las repercusiones psicosociales y culturales del cáncer de mama y sus tratamientos en la sexualidad de las mujeres. MÉTODO: se trata de un estudio cualitativo basado en la Teoría de los Scripts Sexuales con la participación de 23 mujeres entrevistadas y participantes de grupos focales. RESULTADOS: cada categoría fue relacionada con un nivel de los scripts sexuales. En el nivel escenario cultural se destacó un discurso sobre sexualidad que incluyen definiciones de atracción sexual y sexualidad. En el nivel scripts interpersonales se enfoca la categoría comunicación sobre la sexualidad establecida con el compañero y con profesionales de la salud; y en el nivel scripts de subjetividad se analizan los relatos de mejoría, empeoramiento y sin alteraciones, de la vida sexual después del cáncer. CONCLUSIÓN: la experiencia del cáncer contiene aspectos culturales, relacionales y subjetivos que interfieren en la vida sexual, así el profesional de la salud debe estar atento a ellos para mejorar la atención integral de la salud.OBJETIVO: compreender as repercussões psicossociais e culturais do câncer de mama e seus tratamentos na sexualidade de mulheres. MÉTODO: trata-se de estudo qualitativo, embasado na Teoria dos Scripts Sexuais com participação de 23 mulheres entrevistadas e participantes de grupos focais. RESULTADOS: cada categoria foi relacionada a um nível dos scripts sexuais. No nível cenário cultural destacou-se um discurso sobre sexualidade que inclui definições de atratividade sexual e sexualidade. No nível scripts interpessoais focaliza-se a categoria comunicação sobre sexualidade estabelecida com o parceiro e com profissionais de saúde; e no nível scripts da subjetividade analisam-se os relatos de melhora, piora e ausência de alterações na vida sexual após o câncer. CONCLUSÃO: a experiência do câncer envolve aspectos culturais, relacionais e subjetivos que interferem na vida sexual, assim, o profissional de saúde deve estar atento a eles para melhorar a atenção integral em saúde

Homophobia and transphobia in a sample of Movement Sciences students: Implications for physical education teachers and coaches

Gender and sexual stereotypes and prejudices are pervasive in sport contexts and used to preserve male superiority, relegating what is not masculine to a lower status. These stereotypes and biases are firmly rooted in sport also because they are constantly renewed and reinforced by athletic trainers, who may teach, along with sports practice, the underpinning heteronormative ideologies and values as well. The current study was aimed at exploring knowledge, opinions, and attitudes on gender and sexual diversity in sport among 181 Movement Sciences university students compared to 169 university students attending Psychology, Medicine, and Sociology. Participants answered questions related to gender and sexual diversity, homophobia, and transphobia and data were analyzed through student’s t-tests and linear regressions. Results indicated that Movement Sciences university students had a lower level of knowledge about sexual and gender diversity, and this was associated with higher levels of homophobic and transphobic attitudes. The results suggest the need to introduce specific training in degree courses to deconstruct stereotypes and prejudices around sexual and gender diversity

Corpos Mutantes, Mulheres Intrigantes:: Transexualidade e Cirurgia de Redesignação Sexual

Some definitions of transsexuality include the issue of sex reassignment surgery as an inherent desire of all transsexual people. This paper aims to investigate the meanings assigned to the surgery by four transsexual women, seeking to highlight the conceptions about the changes that reassignment creates in the personal life of the transsexual. The data were collected by individual application of open-ended interviews using life history technique. The transcripts were organized into collective case studies and analyzed on basis of the Queer Theory. The results suggest that the meanings attributed to sex reassignment surgery have multiple meanings and are changeable during the process of development and that the desire of an operation should not be included as a criterion in the definition of transsexuality.Algumas definições de transexualidade incluem a questão da cirurgia de redesignação sexual como um desejo inerente aos(às) transexuais. Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar os significados atribuídos por quatro transexuais HpM (homem para mulher) à cirurgia, buscando destacar as concepções a respeito das mudanças que a redesignação acarreta na vida da pessoa transexual. Os dados foram colhidos mediante aplicação individual de entrevista aberta na modalidade história de vida temática. O material transcrito foi organizado sob a forma de estudos de caso. Os resultados sugerem que os significados atribuídos à cirurgia são polissêmicos e mutáveis ao longo do processo de desenvolvimento e amadurecimento psicosexual, e que o desejo de se submeter ao procedimento não deve ser um critério definidor da transexualidade

A sexualidade no processo do envelhecimento: novas perspectivas - comparação transcultural

As terapias de reposição hormonal assim como as novas moléculas (sildenafil, tadalafil) que lutam contra as disfunções da ereção revelaram a demanda crescente na área da saúde sexual na segunda metade da vida. Entretanto, o lugar da sexualidade no processo de envelhecimento constitui um assunto particularmente contaminado por preconceitos. A complementaridade entre a teoria sociológica e a teoria psicanalítica permite esclarecer a dupla natureza deste fenômeno, em que o recalcamento intrapsíquico é fruto, em primeiro lugar, dos ideais culturais interiorizados. Com o propósito de uma comparação transcultural, procedeu-se à aplicação de um questionário amplo a duas amostras, uma brasileira e outra portuguesa, de maneira a caracterizar conhecimentos, atitudes, crenças e práticas sobre a vivência do corpo e da sexualidade de 187 pessoas entre 52 e 90 anos gozando de boa saúde física e mental.Access to new drugs (tibolona, sildenafil, tadalafil) revealed an increasing demand of seniors about their sexual health. However, prejudices about older people's sexuality remain prevalent in our culture. Sociological and psychoanalytical theories combined allow understanding the double nature of this phenomenon, in which intrapsychic repression results of internalized cultural ideals. This article presents a transcultural survey comparing two samples, Brazilian and Portuguese, to verify knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices about sexuality of 187 healthy people, 52 to 90 years old

The Democratic Biopolitics of PrEP

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a relatively new drug-based HIV prevention technique and an important means to lower the HIV risk of gay men who are especially vulnerable to HIV. From the perspective of biopolitics, PrEP inscribes itself in a larger trend of medicalization and the rise of pharmapower. This article reconstructs and evaluates contemporary literature on biopolitical theory as it applies to PrEP, by bringing it in a dialogue with a mapping of the political debate on PrEP. As PrEP changes sexual norms and subjectification, for example condom use and its meaning for gay subjectivity, it is highly contested. The article shows that the debate on PrEP can be best described with the concepts ‘sexual-somatic ethics’ and ‘democratic biopolitics’, which I develop based on the biopolitical approach of Nikolas Rose and Paul Rabinow. In contrast, interpretations of PrEP which are following governmentality studies or Italian Theory amount to either farfetched or trivial positions on PrEP, when seen in light of the political debate. Furthermore, the article is a contribution to the scholarship on gay subjectivity, highlighting how homophobia and homonormativity haunts gay sex even in liberal environments, and how PrEP can serve as an entry point for the destigmatization of gay sexuality and transformation of gay subjectivity. ‘Biopolitical democratization’ entails making explicit how medical technology and health care relates to sexual subjectification and ethics, to strengthen the voice of (potential) PrEP users in health politics, and to renegotiate the profit and power of Big Pharma