(518) Common Ancient and Modern-Day Religious Teachings Regarding Sexual Dysfunction
Authors: Stewart C , Chubak B , Smelser White L , Haw M , Alzweri L 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Sexuality and religion are intricately intertwined. Although religion is associated with sexual taboos, religious texts are among the first and most consistent sources to discuss sex, and more specifically, sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction has always been widely prevalent, and a cause of individual, social, and spiritual distress. As sex and society continue evolving within frameworks of religious thought and practice, it is important to understand what religions have historically taught regarding sexual dysfunction and how it may impact their communities today.

Objective

To provide a broad overview and comparison of how clinical literature illustrates major world religions’ understanding and management of sexual dysfunction, both in their historical texts or traditions and in the modern day. This study aims to illustrate that sexual dysfunction has been addressed by religions since their inceptions. Due to their widespread and historical popularity, we explore Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Methods

We conducted a literature search through the OVID (Medline) database using the terms “sexual dysfunction,” “erectile dysfunction,” “religion,” “Islam,” “Christianity,” “Buddhism,” “Judaism,” and “Hinduism,” with a particular focus on articles that addressed foundational ancient texts, historical teachings, or what is being taught today. From these findings, we identified any articles that explored specific religions’ perceptions and teachings (modern day or ancient) regarding sexual dysfunction. Due to the expansive and idiosyncratic nature of religious belief and practice, we cannot fully represent the unique complexities and perspectives that any of these religions may offer with respect to this topic. Instead, we emphasize the common denominators generally shared within and between religions, as well as those which were available in the literature.

Results

The religions of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism all acknowledge sexuality as an integral part of human society and individual expression. These religions all address sexual dysfunction as a potential threat to the ideal participation of the affected person within their community. This is universally true, despite variances in the specific statutes and guidelines defining ideal sexual practice for each religion. In addition, despite frequently opining on the management of women’s bodies, particularly the bodies of women of reproductive age, we found a relative deficit of discussion regarding sexual dysfunction among women in religious literatures. Also, we identified a possible tendency to conservativism, with religious discourse acknowledging the changes in sexual medical and surgical practice over time, but often delaying (or less frequently, declining) their integration with religious mores. Finally, we highlight the cyclical nature of many religions' discussion, or lack thereof, regarding sexual dysfunction.

Conclusions

Ultimately, our findings identify a constant concern with sexuality and sexual dysfunction across major religions worldwide, which is characterized by a cyclical progression and regression in the incorporation of secular biomedical attitudes, diagnostic, and therapeutic options for sexual health. Awareness of these patterns and religion-specific beliefs about sexual dysfunction has potential to optimize patient-centered care and advocacy within and on behalf of different patient populations.

Disclosure

No