Who to contact for sex therapy

Treatment is free, but you will need to be referred by your GP.

Genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
GUM clinics treat sexually transmitted infections and can also help on all sorts of sexual issues.

They have good knowledge and lots of common-sense, although the doctors are not generally highly trained in psychosexual issues because their forte is diagnosing and treating infections.

There are concerns that waiting times for GUM clinics are growing, but it should be possible for you to see a doctor within two weeks and get some general advice. However, specialist psychotherapy and marriage guidance are definitely not provided.

All consultations are free.

NHS gynaecologists and urologists
The NHS should be able to help if a sex problem is essentially physical, for example a too wide vagina after childbirth or a bent penis.

Women are generally referred by their GPs to a gynaecologist and men to a urologist.

Some gynaecologists and urologists now provide psychosexual counselling services, and many urologists are prescribing erection-inducing drugs.

Treatment is free. Your GP should be able to advise you about who to go to and, most essentially, write you a referral letter.

Relate and Relate Scotland
Relate is not just a relationship counselling agency.

A number of Relate counsellors have specific psychosexual training, mainly in the school of Masters and Johnson.

So when you phone, make it clear that you are looking for sex therapy rather than marriage guidance.

Relate sex counsellors are highly rated for doing an excellent job in treating various 'technical' bedroom problems such as:

• premature ejaculation
• lack of sex drive
• inability to climax.

Relate's fees are relatively modest and are means-based.

Relate Scotland (until recently known as Couple Counselling Scotland) does similar good work to Relate, but north of the border. The number of your nearest clinic will be in your local phone book.

Institute of Psychosexual Medicine
The Institute of Psychosexual Medicine is an organisation of family planning doctors who have had special training in sex problems, particularly:

• vaginismus
• poor libido
• difficulty in climaxing.

Fees can be up to £120 an hour in the more expensive parts of large cities, so make sure you check beforehand.

British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy
The British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy consists mostly of non-medical personnel plus some doctors, all of whom have had extensive training.

The best way to find out about a therapist in your area is to email info@basrt.org.uk

Therapists charge fees, which vary greatly in different parts of the country. Consultations in Harley Street and similar areas are likely to be expensive.

Always check what the costs will be before booking yourself in.

Sexual Dysfunction Association (SDA)
Formerly the Impotence Association, the Sexual Dysfunction Association is a national charity that tries to help both men and women find a suitable therapist or clinic for sex problems. It doesn't provide treatment or see patients.