Sexual Issues
		It is no wonder that survivors of childhood sexual abuse might later develop sexual issues. When a child has instilled a sense of shame regarding her genitals, it may be difficult for her to have a healthy adult sexual relationship. She may consider her genitals, or whatever part of her body that was abused, to be dirty or tainted, while the parts of her body not involed in the abuse (such as breasts that were not yet developed at the time of the abuse) may have no negative feelings associated with them. If she enjoyed any part of her abuse, she may feel guilty for enjoying sex as an adult.She may be very inhibited during sex and have trouble expressing herself, especially when she is participating in an act similar to an act of her abuse. All possible feelings on the continuum are normal. The survivor may feel that she needs to have complete control during sex and she may need to always be the aggressor; she may feel that she was put on this earth to be a sexual object for others to abuse; she may become compulsively seductive or a sexual addict because she has learned that sex is her only method to receive love; she may completely avoid all intimate activity; or she may feel guilty or embarrassed if she enjoys sex. Flashbacks during adult sexual activity may be very frightening and add to her inhibition during sex because her fear is reinforced as she relives the childhood experience. A survivor may not enjoy sex, but allow herself to be used against her will to please her partner, and as a result, she continues her abuse because she is violated again in her mind, even if the partner is loving. She may internalize the pain of each act that is similar to her abuse. It is a common occurrence for a survivor to go to the other extreme and enter into prostitution. She may feel that it is her "duty" to please others sexually, or she may be using the method she has learned best to get attention and love, however perverted. She may have no regard for her body and so she continues to allow others to abuse her. Her self-loathing may be so severe that subconcsiously, she is getting back at herself for being so "bad" by sabotaging herself. Sexual issues are very individual and complex, and the survivor may need professional help to evaluate what the underlying cause is for her. Sharing her feelings candidly with her partner and letting him know what her emotional and physical needs are may be helpful, but because she may feel embarrassed about talking about sex and because she may not feel her needs are valid, the survivor may have difficulty asking her partner for consideration of her needs. She may find it helpful to explore her body first by herself to learn privately and safely what triggers negative rsponses and also what is pleasurable for her; she may then be able to share these feelings with her partner to help prevent triggering negative responses during sex. Some books in the Partners and Allies Resource List may be helpful for partners to work slowly through sexual issues.