NMH

191 NMH | 2024 191 Health and Social Care Professionals T he Psychosexual Therapy Clinic continues to be very busy with referrals received from General Practitioners, clinics from the Dublin South East Hospital Group and a variety of clinics within The National Maternity Hospital including gynaecology, fertility, postnatal, physiotherapy, complex menopause, social work, perinatal mental health, adolescent gynaecology, oncology and consultant clinics. As in previous years, there remains a lengthy waiting list for women with vaginismus continuing to be the primary concern for women referred for assessment and treatment. There was also an increase in the number of men being referred to the clinic via their GPs with erectile dysfunction being the main concern. Similar to last year, there was a significant amount of women referred who had a history of cancer treatment, as well as women who had reported past sexual abuse or harm leading to fear/anxiety/ trauma around being sexual. Corinne Henry-Bezy qualified as a Registered Psychosexual Therapist in February and was successful in securing a permanent part-time position in the Department in August. Much of the focus in the Department has been on trying to reduce the waiting list but also upgrading the technical side of the work, updating website information and liaising with other clinics in the Hospital with education/information sessions. It is envisaged that the results of this will be noticeable in 2025. Trainee Psychosexual Therapist, Julia Daly started her placement in March when she began seeing clients under supervision. Julia is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Perinatal Mental Health working in the Rotunda Hospital and started psychosexual and relationship therapy counselling training with the London Diploma in Relationship and Psychosexual Psychosexual Therapy Therapy in 2023. She hopes to be fully qualified by the end of 2025 and to set up a clinic in the Rotunda. Meg Fitzgerald, Department Head, continued to provide lectures to Medical Students throughout the year as well as participating in the ICGP Community Gynaecology Course in March. Corinne Henry-Bezy was invited to speak at the Endometriosis Association Ireland Annual Endo Conference in March giving a talk on 'Psychosexual Therapy' and also at the Merrion Fertility Clinic- Fertility Study Day in October presenting on 'The Impact of Fertility Treatment on Sexual Relationships'. In December, the Department hosted a guest speaker, Dr Maria McEvoy, who gave a presentation entitled, 'Vaginismus in Ireland: A Biopsychosocial Approach' which was based on research undertaken for her PHD in 2018-2021. This was the first research on vaginismus taken in Ireland Dysfunctions Presenting in 2024 Female Vaginismus 120 Dyspareunia 58 Inhibited sexual desire 29 Anorgasmia 9 Male Erectile dysfunction 9 Premature ejaculation 3 Delayed ejaculation 2 Unconfirmed 14 Total 244 Referral Sources Consultant/NMH Staff 103 General practitioners 77 Other agencies/hospitals 47 Self-enquiries 17 Total 244 Outcome Engaged in weekly/fortnightly therapy or brief intervention 80 Reviewed but did not avail of contact 46 Placed on waiting list for 2024 85 Referred to private clinic 15 Referred to external/local PST services 18 Total 244 in over forty years and her presentation provided much discussion with NMH staff who attended on the day. A blended approach to counselling work continued throughout the year. Clients are seen for initial assessments in-person and if suitable are offered the option to attend online or in-person in the clinic for further counselling sessions. 138 new referrals were received in 2024: 88 referrals came from a 2023 waiting list from and 18 cases continued therapy from 2023. Meg Fitzgerald, Psychosexual Therapist.

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