Occupational Therapy and Sexual Health
Sexual health is a vital part of health and wellness. In fact, occupational therapists categorize sexual activity as an activity of daily living: the same category that vital self-care activities fall under such as bathing, toileting, hygiene, and grooming. Similarly, family planning falls under health management along with vital activities like managing nutrition, exercise, and medication.
Clearly, sexual health is a vital component of human beings' well-being. Sexual dysfunction or a lack of family planning can impact every other occupation and aspect of your life:
- Other activities of daily living (when you shower or how you shower; managing feminine hygiene products with upper extremity issues, etc.)
- Instrumental activities of daily living (caring for potential children or not)
- Work and education (sex can help with stress and work-life balance or a lack of it can lead to increased frustration and stress)
- Play and leisure (sex can even be considered a leisure activity or play and may even be your main form of either)
- Social participation (couples' nights out and dating)
- As well as rest and sleep (a time when sex often occurs and creates a sleep hygiene routine).
It is little wonder then, that sexuality is within occupational therapists' scope of practice. Our involvement can vary from building a dating profile with a recently disabled client, to educating a newly sexually active client on birth control methods, to helping an older adult with cognitive impairment manage sexual health medication and devices, to addressing mental health conditions that decrease self-image and libido, to the ergonomics of sexual activity for comfort, to fine motor skills necessary to derive pleasure from sexual experiences, to organizing thoughts and behaviors around family planning, and much more. Sexual health may even constitute work for individuals in the sex industry. For example, Las Vegas is known for its exotic dancing and our rural counties are known for legal prostitution. Entire economies and communities depend on sex work, and this is an area occupational therapists are particularly well-positioned to treat and address.
Though it may seem strange, sexual health is indeed a very important occupation for all humans, as we are sexual beings. Even individuals who are asexual--or on the other end of the spectrum--alosexual, highly value concepts of sexual orientation, sexual desire, and level of romance as they represent a portion of all individuals' core identities...even if it means they find identity in the lack of sexual desire. We all want to be known and accepted for who we truly are.
Like any other healthcare field, all occupational therapists have a basic level of education regarding human sexuality and related healthcare needs; however, some occupational therapists focus on sexual health more than others. If you think you could benefit from occupational therapy in this area, speak up. Let your primary care provider know that you would like occupational therapy to address particular areas of concern or let the OT practitioner you already have know that you have some sexual concerns you would like them to address. They would be happy to help or guide you to another therapist with more sexual health experience.
While it's difficult to separate the baggage of sex, puberty, romance, menopause, and other similar topics from the taboos that exist in society; it is important that you receive the healthcare you require to live a vibrant and satisfied life.
