Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to provide insight into female sexual difficulties

ABSTRACT

Sexual experiences and behaviour are particularly open to social and cultural influences; this is especially true within the area of female sexuality. While research into the social and cultural aspects of sexuality proliferated throughout the 1970s and 1980s, contemporary biomedical approaches to sexuality research have largely ignored the complex interplay of such dimensions. In this methodological paper, we reflect upon how Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) can be used by sexuality researchers to explore women's sexual experiences and difficulties and to locate these experiences within cultural and social contexts. By drawing on the authors’ experiences of using IPA to explore how women cope with the sexual side effects of antidepressant medication, we provide an overview of IPA as a research approach, briefly summarise studies which have used IPA to explore women's sexual experiences and difficulties and outline a series of steps on how to conduct an IPA study. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate debate, and encourage sexuality researchers to explore and consider the use of IPA to contribute to a research agenda based on women's individual needs and desires.

KEYWORDS:

• Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
• sexual difficulties
• social/cultural context
• qualitative methodology
• female sexuality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cathy O'Mullan

Cathy O’Mullan (Dr PH) completed her Doctoral studies at Curtin University in 2016 and has over 15 years experience in the field of sexual health. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at CQ University, Australia and has a particular interest in the sexuality of marginalised groups.

Maryanne Doherty

Maryanne Doherty (PhD) is an Associate Professor (Sexology) at Curtin University, Australia.. She currently supervises a number of PhD sexology candidates, and has published extensively in the area of sexuality, particularly school-based approaches to sexual health education.

Rosemary Coates

Rosemary Coates (PhD), Associate Professor (Sexology) at Curtin University, has dedicated her life to sexual health and medical ethics, with over three decades of experience in the teaching and research arena. Dr Coates has an extensive record of work in the international arena and was awarded the Order of Australia (AO) for her national and international work in the area of sexual health and contributions to medical education.

P. J. Matt Tilley

P.J. Matt Tilley (Master of Psychology) has over 17 years experience in the area of sexual health, both in education and therapy. In addition to being a lecturer in the Department of Sexology at Curtin University, he is a clinical psychologist, and a Research Fellow at the Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH).