Here are just a few examples of hypnosis-related citations from our course bibliography (30+ pages), including studies that have investigated (and often confirmed) the usefulness and efficacy of hypnosis for many kinds of sexuality and sexual health problems.
Sexual Concerns and Dysfunctions
Al-Sughayir, M. A., & Psych, K. S. U. F. (2005). Vaginismus treatment. Hypnotherapy versus behavior therapy. Neurosciences (Riyadh), 10, 163-7.
Ambrosetti, Andrea. (2019). “Treatment of vaginismus by hypnotic psychotherapy. Review.” Pelviperineology 38.3: 96.
Anderson, R. U., Nagy, T. F., Orenberg, E. K., Morey, A., & Glowe, P. (2011). “Feasibility trial of medical hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy for men with refractory chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome.” UroToday International Journal, 4(4):art 46. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2011.08.02
Araoz, D. L., (2005) “Hypnosis in human sexuality problems.” American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 47:4.
Ibid. (1982) Hypnosis and sex therapy. New York, NY: Brunner/ Mazel, Inc.
Araoz, D. L. & Bleck, R. T. (1982) Hypnosex: Sexual joy through self- hypnosis. New York: NY: Arbor House.
Araoz, D. L, Burte, J. M., & Goldin, E. (2001) Sexual hypnotherapy for the couples and family counselor. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 9(1), 75-81. Retrieved from:
http://drburte.com/docs/hypnosis-couples.pdf
Aung, H. H., Dey, L., Rand, V., & Yuan, C. S. (2004). Alternative therapies for male and female sexual dysfunction. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 32(02), 161-173.
Aydin, S., Ercan, M., Çaşkurlu, T., Taşçi, A. I., Karaman, Í., Odabaş, Ö., … & Sevin, G. (1997). Acupuncture and hypnotic suggestions in the treatment of non-organic male sexual dysfunction. Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology, 31(3), 271-274.
Aydin, S., Odabas ̧ O., Ercan, M., Kara, H., & Agargun, M. Y. (1996). Efficacy of testosterone, trazodone and hypnotic suggestion in the treatment of non-organic male sexual dysfunction. British Journal of Urology, 77(2), 256–260. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1464-410X.1996.86316.x
Bagcioglu, E., Altunoluk, B., Bez, Y., Soylemez, H. Asik, A., & Emul, M. (2012). Metacognition in patients with premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 12(1), 77-84.
Blunsden, S. (2010-11). “Brief psychotherapy utilizing hypnosis to reduce negative emotions triggering a stress response, exacerbating a chronic skin complaint—lichen sclerosus of the Vulva.” Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 38(2)/39(1), 166–180. Retrieved from: http://www.hypnosisaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/journal/AJECH_Vol38Vol2-39Vol1_NovMay.pdf#page=96
Dolan, L. (2009). An integrative approach to the psychotherapeutic treatment of vaginismus incorporationg hypnosuggestion and hypnoanalysis. Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 32(1), 60-73. Retrieved from: http://www.hypnosisaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/journal/ AJCEH_Vol37_No1_MAY09.pdf#page=66
Efremov, A. (2023). Relieving psychosomatic pain and negative emotions through dehypnosis. Asian Journal of Individual and Organizational Behavior, 3(1-2023), 18-24.
Elkins, G.R. ed. (2017). Handbook of medical and psychological hypnosis: Foundations, applications, and professional issues. New York: Springer.
Freeman, R. M., & Baxby, K. (1982). Hypnotherapy for incontinence caused by the unstable detrusor. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 284(6332), 1831-1834.
Fuchs, K., Abramovici, H., Hoch, Z., Timor‐Tritsch, I., & Kleinhaus, M. (1975). Vaginismus—the hypno‐therapeutic approach. Journal of Sex Research, 11(1), 39-45.
Kandyba, K. & Binik, Y. M. (2003). Hypnotherapy as a treatment for vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: A case report. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 29(3), 237-242. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230390155122
Kershaw, V., & Jha, S. (2022). Female sexual dysfunction. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, 24(1), 12-23.
Kocharyan, G. (2025). Sexual Disorders: A Behavioral Approach to Their Formation and Therapy. Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy, (24).
Kocharyan, G. S. (2024). Lack of sexual desire, aggravated by hypoerection caused by the neurosis of expectation of failure. Case from clinical practice. Health of Man,(4), 23-7.
Komesu, Y.M. et al. (2022) “Hypnotherapy or Medications: A Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial in Urgency Urinary Incontinent Women.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Komisaruk, B.R. & B. Whipple. (2012) “Non-genital orgasms.” Sexual and Relationship Therapy 26.4 (2011): 356-372.
Kraft, T. & Kraft, D. (2007) “The place of hypnosis in pyschiatry, part 2: Its application to the treatment of sexual disorders.” Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 35(1), 1-18. Retrieved from: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download doi=10.1.1.461.6123&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Lemke, W. (2005). “Utilizing Hypnosis and Ego-State Therapy to Facilitate Healthy Adaptive Differentiation in the Treatment of Sexual Disorders.” American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 47.3.
Melnik, T., Hawton, K., & McGuire, H. (2012). Interventions for vaginismus. The Cochrane Library.
Meyerson, J. (2017) “Self-talk monitoring and utilization for enhancing hpnotic induction.” American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 60:2, 149-158. Retrieved from: DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2017.1289465
Pourhosein, R. & Ehsan, Z. B. (2011) “Using hypnosis in a case of vaginismus: A case report.” Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 15, 3886–3889
Pukall, C., Kandyba, K., Amsel, R., Khalifé, S., & Binik, Y. (2007) “Effectiveness of hypnosis for the treatment of vulva vestibulitis syndrome: A preliminary investigation.” Journal of Sexual Medicine. 4:417–425.
Schnur, J. B., David, D., Kangas, M., Green, S., Bovberg, D. H., & Montgomery, G. H. (2009). A randomized trial of a cognitive- behavioral therapy and hypnosis intervention on positive and negative affect during breast cancer radiotherapy. Journal Of Clinical Psychology, 65(4):443-455. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20559
Takaishi, N. (2000). A comparative study of autogenic training and progressive relaxation as methods for teaching clients to relax. Sleep and Hypnosis, 2(3),132-136. Retrieved from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7afc/ 250011e69837ecf236638d1e1c6a22535bd1.pdf
Tramontana, J., Sharkey, A., & Hays, S. (2022). Future projection therapy: Techniques and case examples. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 65(1), 60-71.
“Hot Flashes”
Elkins, G., Marcus, J., Stearns, V., & Hasan Rajab, M. (2007). Pilot evaluation of hypnosis for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. Psycho‐Oncology, 16(5), 487-492.
Elkins, G., Marcus, J., Stearns, V., Perfect, M., Rajab, M. H., Ruud, C., … & Keith, T. (2008). Randomized trial of a hypnosis intervention for treatment of hot flashes among breast cancer survivors. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 26(31), 5022-5026.
Elkins, G. R., Fisher, W. I., Johnson, A. K., Carpenter, J. S., & Keith, T. Z. (2013). Clinical Hypnosis in the Treatment of Post-Menopausal Hot Flashes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Menopause (New York, NY), 20(3).
Childbirth & Pregnancy
Cyna, A. M., McAuliffe, G. L., & Andrew, M. I. (2004). Hypnosis for pain relief in labour and childbirth: a systematic review. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 93(4): 505-511. doi: 10.1093/bja/aeh225
Corey Brown, D., & Corydon Hammond, D. (2007). Evidence-based clinical hypnosis for obstetrics, labor and delivery, and preterm labor. Intl. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 55(3), 355-371.
Dinsdale, N. L., & Crespi, B. J. (2022). Niles Newton’s Triune Goddess: Sex-Birth-Breastfeeding Interactions Shape Women’s Capacity For Pleasure. Women’s pleasures, women’s pains: oxytocin, orgasm, and endometriosis, 149.
Eng, Y. H., & Cyna, A. M. (2006). A comparison of midwives’ knowledge of, and attitudes to, hypnosis in hospitals with and without a hypnotherapy service. Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 34(1), 17.
James, U. (2009). Practical uses of clinical hypnosis in enhancing fertility, healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 15(4), 239-241.
Ketterhagen, D., VandeVusse, L., & Berner, M.A. (2002) Self-Hypnosis: Alternative Anesthesia for Childbirth. American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 27(6), 335-340.
Landolt, A. S., & Milling, L. S. (2011). The efficacy of hypnosis as an intervention for labor and delivery pain: A comprehensive methodological review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1022-1031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2011.06.002
Legrand, F., Grévin-Laroche, C., Josse, E., Polidori, G., Quinart, H., & Taïar, R. (2017). Effects of hypnosis during pregnancy: A psychophysiological study on maternal stress. Medical Hypotheses, 102, 123-127.
Madden, K., Middleton, P., Cyna, A. M., Matthewson, M., & Jones, L. (2012). Hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth. The Cochrane Library.
Smith, C. A., Collins, C. T., Cyna, A. M., & Crowther, C. A. (2006). Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. The Cochrane Library.
VandeVusse, L., Irland, J., Berner, M. A., Fuller, S., & Adams, D. (2007). Hypnosis for childbirth: A retrospective comparative analysis of outcomes in one obstetrician’s practice. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 50(2), 109-119.
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