Sexuality in Females with "Hysteria"
HARRY PROSEN M.D.1
1 Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, and Chairman, Psychotherapy Section, Canadian Psychiatric Association
Much has been written on sexuality in female hysterics. No author seems to have established a direct relationship between frigidity and hysteria. The literature shows confusion in the definition of hysterical personality. Many hysterics have a strong pregenital element added to the genital fixation.
Two cases are presented of women with the ability to achieve and enjoy an unusual amount of sexual pleasure in heterosexual relationships. Both of these patients had earlier incestuous ties in which there were strong pregenital elements. As the patients achieved insight in therapy their sexual relationships became much more "usual." It is suggested, therefore, that in certain cases of female hysteria where the pregenital fixation is strong and there is primarily an oral dependency on the father a variation of the usual sexual picture is possible, so that instead of the customary frigidity an unusual degree of sexual gratification may be achieved.
