If you search for help with a sexual problem in India, you will see the word “sexologist” everywhere, alongside “sex therapist” and “sexual health doctor”. They are not the same, and the difference matters. Some can examine you and prescribe medicine, some offer talking therapy, and some have no recognised qualification at all. Here is how to tell them apart and choose the right person for your concern.
The short answer
- See a doctor, such as a general physician, urologist, gynaecologist, psychiatrist or sexual health doctor, for anything that may be physical: pain, bleeding, discharge, sores, sudden changes, or problems that started after a new medicine.
- See a sex therapist, a psychologist, counsellor or psychotherapist trained in sexual health, for anxiety, shame, relationship patterns, fear of sex, low or mismatched desire, and practical exercises.
- Many people need both, at the same time or one after the other.
What does “sexologist” mean in India?
“Sexologist” simply means someone who works with sex and sexuality. In India the title is used by people with very different training. Some are medical doctors with extra training in sexual medicine. Some are psychologists or counsellors. Others have no recognised medical or psychology qualification. The title on its own tells you little, so look at the qualification and registration behind it.
What a sex therapist does
A sex therapist is a mental health professional, usually a psychologist, counsellor or psychotherapist, with additional training in sexual health. Their work is sometimes called psychosexual therapy. They:
- offer talking therapy, by video, audio or in person;
- help with performance anxiety, fear of pain, shame, low or mismatched desire, and the effects of trauma;
- teach practical exercises to do privately at home, such as sensate focus, a step-by-step set of touch exercises for couples that takes the pressure off;
- often work with couples as well as individuals.
They don’t examine you physically, order medical tests or prescribe medicine. Sessions are conversations, in clinical, non-explicit language.
What a sexual health doctor does
A sexual health doctor is a registered medical practitioner, with an MBBS and often further specialist training, who focuses on sexual problems. They can:
- take a medical history and, in a clinic, examine you;
- order tests, such as blood sugar, cholesterol and hormone levels;
- diagnose and treat physical causes, and prescribe medicine where suitable;
- refer you to a urologist, gynaecologist or other specialist.
Other doctors you may see
- Psychiatrist: a doctor specialising in mental health. Helpful when sexual problems come with depression or anxiety, or may be a side effect of mental health medicines.
- Urologist: specialises in the urinary system and male reproductive organs.
- Gynaecologist: specialises in women’s reproductive health, including pain during sex.
- Dermatologist and venereologist: in India, sexually transmitted infections are often treated in skin and VD departments.
- Pelvic floor physiotherapist: helps with muscle tension and pain, for example in vaginismus.
Who to see for what
| Concern | Start with | Also helpful |
|---|---|---|
| Erection problems that keep happening | A doctor, for a physical check | A sex therapist for performance anxiety |
| Ejaculating too soon | A sex therapist or a doctor | Both, if techniques alone aren’t enough |
| Pain or fear with penetration | A gynaecologist | A sex therapist and a pelvic floor physiotherapist |
| Low or mismatched desire | A sex therapist, often as a couple | A doctor if hormones, medicines or a new baby may be involved |
| Anxiety, guilt or shame about sex | A sex therapist | A psychiatrist if there is depression or severe anxiety |
| Sex after trauma or abuse | A therapist trained in trauma | A doctor for any physical concerns |
| Discharge, sores, itching or worries about infection | A doctor or sexual health clinic, in person | Counselling if worry continues after tests |
How to check qualifications in India
- Doctors must be registered with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council. Ask for the registration number and check it on the Indian Medical Register on the NMC website, or with the State Medical Council.
- Clinical psychologists must be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) to practise. Ask for their RCI registration number.
- Counsellors and psychotherapists: ask about their degree, their training in sexual health, and whether they have regular supervision from a senior colleague.
A good professional will be happy to tell you. If someone avoids the question, choose someone else.
Questions to ask before you book
- What is your qualification, and where are you registered?
- What training do you have in sexual health?
- Do you work with couples as well as individuals?
- Will I need a physical examination or tests, and where would those happen?
- How long is each session, what does it cost, and roughly how many sessions do people need for a concern like mine?
- Do you sell or recommend any products? (A good answer is that any medicine would only come on a doctor’s prescription.)
What the first appointment looks like
With a doctor, expect questions about your symptoms, general health, medicines and lifestyle, and possibly a physical examination in a clinic and some blood tests. You should come away knowing whether there is a physical cause and what the options are.
With a sex therapist, the first session is a conversation about what is worrying you, how long it has been going on, your relationship and your background. There is no examination. You should come away with a clearer understanding of the problem and a plan, which may include seeing a doctor if you haven’t already.
Warning signs
Be cautious if someone:
- promises a “permanent cure”, “100% results” or guaranteed success;
- sells their own medicines, oils or “secret formulas” during the consultation;
- pushes you to buy an expensive package on the first visit;
- can’t tell you their qualification or registration number;
- asks you to undress or show your body on a video call.
Indian law backs you here. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 bans advertising medicines for improving sexual capacity or as remedies for conditions such as sexual impotence.
Checking a doctor you meet online
Registered doctors in India can consult online under the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines (2020). Those guidelines expect the doctor to identify themselves to you, so you can check their name and registration number before or during the consultation. A prescription from a registered doctor should carry their name, qualification and registration number. If an online “consultation” ends with a product link rather than a proper prescription or advice, be cautious.
Online or in person?
Talking therapy works well online, and many people find it easier to open up from their own room. A doctor can take a history and give advice online, but a physical examination, blood tests and tests for infections need a clinic or lab. A common pattern is an in-person check with a doctor, followed by online sessions with a therapist.
Privacy
Many people delay getting help because they fear someone will find out. Online sessions let you see someone outside your town, from a private room. On Mindara, receipts for sexual health counselling say “Counselling session”, receipts for sexual health doctors say “Doctor consultation”, and booking emails don’t name your concern. These services are for adults only.
Where Mindara fits
Mindara lists both sides of care for adults: therapists who have sent proof of sexual health training, which our team checks; psychiatrists; and registered sexual health doctors as they join. Start on our sexual health page, or go straight to erectile dysfunction counselling, premature ejaculation, vaginismus or low or mismatched desire. If you are unsure whether you need therapy, a psychiatrist or both, read choosing between therapy, psychiatry and both.