Sexuality & Intimacy Assessments — Free Intimacy, Orientation & Sexual Wellbeing Tests
Intimacy assessment, sexual orientation, sexual preoccupation — clinically informed self-tests, free in the Mindtalk app.
What this hub covers
Sexuality and intimacy assessments across multiple dimensions.
- Intimacy Assessment (IA) (in the Mindtalk app) — quality of intimate connection with partner.
- Sexual Orientation Test (ORIENT) (in the Mindtalk app) — reflection on sexual orientation.
- Sexual Preoccupation reflection (in the Mindtalk app) — concern about the pattern of sexual thoughts or behaviours.
Additional assessments including Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Male Sexual Function Index equivalents are available in extended clinical intake.
Why sexuality is under-discussed
Cultural taboos across many contexts — India particularly — make sexuality difficult to raise in clinical settings. But sexual concerns are as common in India as anywhere. Roughly 40% of women and 30% of men report a sexual concern at some point in adulthood; up to 60% don't seek professional help even when it would benefit them.
Bringing sexuality into clinical space is protective, not intrusive. Good clinicians treat sexuality as one dimension of wellbeing among many.
Common sexual concerns
- Sexual desire discrepancy — one partner wants more or less than the other. Very common; treatable.
- Painful sex (women) — dyspareunia, vaginismus. Often has physical + psychological components.
- Erectile difficulty (men) — usually has physical + psychological components. Medical evaluation matters (cardiovascular, hormonal).
- Orgasmic difficulty — for either partner. Multiple causes possible.
- Sexual anxiety — anxiety before or during sex, often driving avoidance.
- Mismatched preferences with partner — desires that don't align.
- Sexual identity questions — LGBTQ+ or ambiguous identity work.
- Distress about sexual thoughts or behaviours — including recovery from sexual compulsivity.
- Recovery from sexual trauma — see ITQ trauma screener alongside.
Physical vs psychological — usually both
Common physical contributors:
- Hormonal (thyroid, testosterone, oestrogen, prolactin)
- Medication side effects (SSRIs notoriously reduce libido and delay orgasm)
- Cardiovascular health, diabetes
- Chronic pain
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Menopause / andropause transitions
Common psychological contributors:
- Anxiety and depression
- Trauma history (particularly sexual trauma)
- Relationship dynamics
- Cultural / religious conditioning about sex
- Body image (see Eating Disorders hub)
- Attachment patterns
Good treatment addresses both dimensions when relevant.
Treatments backed by evidence
Sex therapy — Sensate focus (Masters and Johnson lineage), cognitive-behavioural sex therapy. Works for most sexual difficulties.
Couples therapy — Emotionally Focused Therapy or Gottman Method with a sex-therapy-trained clinician for desire discrepancy and relational contributors.
CBT for sexual concerns — Targeting sexual anxiety, avoidance, and cognitive patterns.
Trauma-focused therapy — EMDR, TF-CBT for sexual trauma recovery.
Medical intervention — For physical contributors (medication adjustment, hormonal treatment, pelvic floor physiotherapy, PDE-5 inhibitors, etc.).
LGBTQ+-affirmative therapy — For identity work, coming out, minority stress.
When to see a specialist
- Sexual concerns impacting relationship, wellbeing, or self-concept
- Sexual identity questions causing distress
- Recovering from sexual trauma
- Sexual difficulty co-occurring with depression or anxiety
- Medical causes needing to be ruled out
- Difficulty raising sexuality with your partner
Mindtalk's sex-therapy-trained clinicians work across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is sexuality so under-discussed in mental health?
- Cultural taboos across many contexts make sexuality difficult to raise in clinical settings. In India specifically, cultural norms around sexuality and gender make direct clinical discussion rare — but sexual concerns are as common as they are elsewhere. Under-discussion leads to under-treatment; up to 60% of adults with sexual concerns don't seek professional help even when it would help.
- What are common sexual concerns?
- Common concerns: sexual desire discrepancy in relationships (one partner wants more or less than the other), painful sex (for women — dyspareunia, vaginismus), erectile difficulty, difficulty reaching orgasm, sexual anxiety, mismatched preferences with partner, sexual identity questions, distress about sexual thoughts or behaviours, recovery from sexual trauma. Roughly 40% of women and 30% of men report a concern at some point.
- Sexual concerns — physical or psychological?
- Both, often together. Common physical contributors: hormonal changes (thyroid, testosterone, oestrogen, prolactin), medication side effects (SSRIs are notorious for reducing libido and orgasm), cardiovascular health, diabetes, chronic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction. Common psychological contributors: anxiety, depression, trauma history, relationship dynamics, cultural / religious conditioning about sex. Good treatment addresses both dimensions when relevant.
- What treatment works for sexual concerns?
- Depends on the specific concern. For desire discrepancy → couples therapy + individual sex therapy. For pain during sex → medical evaluation + pelvic floor physiotherapy + psychological therapy. For erectile / orgasmic difficulty → medical evaluation + sex therapy (sensate focus). For sexual anxiety → CBT for sexual concerns. For sexual trauma → trauma-focused therapy (EMDR, TF-CBT). Sex-therapy-trained clinicians are the right specialists for most of these.
- When should I see a specialist?
- If sexual concerns are impacting your relationship, wellbeing, or self-concept. If sexual identity questions are causing distress. If you're processing sexual trauma. If sexual difficulty co-occurs with depression or anxiety. If medical causes need to be ruled out. Mindtalk's sex-therapy-trained clinicians work across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India.
Need a clinician's read on your results?
A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.