Has your first sexual experience been imprinted in your memory? Some researchers suggest that your “loss of virginity” is not just a mere memory. It could actually affect your current sexual experiences as well.
According to a study in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, people who have “more positive first-time sexual experiences (e.g., intimacy, respect) report greater feelings of sexual satisfaction and esteem and less sexual depression.” These results suggest that positive first-time sexual experiences could lead to increased physical and emotional satisfaction later in life.
An article in Medical Xpress about the study added that people who experienced more anxiety and negative emotions during their first sexual experience reported lower sexual satisfaction later in life.
For women who may have had a less than pleasurable first-time experience, there is still hope. Sex therapist, Dr. Hartzell, PhD, explains how the loss of your virginity may influence your future sexual relationships, as well as how to gain control of your sexual enjoyment.
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What's the Impact of Losing Your Virginity?
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Dr. Hartzell performs psychotherapy and is a sexuality researcher at San Diego Sexual Medicine, where she is responsible for addressing the sexuality, relationship, and intimacy concerns of individuals and couples who attend the clinic.
Dr. Hartzell earned her doctorate in health behavior with an emphasis in human sexuality, and an EdS and Masters in mental health counseling with a minor in development from Indiana University. Dr. Hartzell is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (license number 53079) and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist who has worked in a variety of settings, providing psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Hartzell has written multiple publications and has presented at over 30 international and national meetings on sexuality matters.
She has conducted sex research with the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction and the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention (RCAP). Dr. Hartzell is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Therapist & Educator and has taught numerous classes at Indiana University-Bloomington, the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and San Diego State University. She has a monthly spot on FOX5 San Diego and has been quoted in many newspaper and magazine articles including the New York Times and Women's Health Magazine. She also serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Hartzell, PhD, EdS
Dr. Hartzell performs psychotherapy and is a sexuality researcher at San Diego Sexual Medicine, where she is responsible for addressing the sexuality, relationship, and intimacy concerns of individuals and couples who attend the clinic. Dr. Hartzell earned her doctorate in health behavior with an emphasis in human sexuality, and an EdS and Masters in mental health counseling with a minor in development from Indiana University. Dr. Hartzell is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (license number 53079) and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist who has worked in a variety of settings, providing psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Hartzell has written multiple publications and has presented at over 30 international and national meetings on sexuality matters.
She has conducted sex research with the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction and the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention (RCAP). Dr. Hartzell is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Therapist & Educator and has taught numerous classes at Indiana University-Bloomington, the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and San Diego State University. She has a monthly spot on FOX5 San Diego and has been quoted in many newspaper and magazine articles including the New York Times and Women's Health Magazine. She also serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Sexual Medicine.