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To the most gratifying problems of analysis belongs the cure of sexual disorders in marriage. Whether it concerns impotence of the man or frigidity of the woman, in both cases the happiness of the marriage depends upon the results of analysis.
The following case has been published in order to show the importance of a successful dream-analysis. The axiom of Freud that dream-interpretation is the “via regia” to the “unconscious” still holds true. Although I personally do not believe in an “unconscious” in the sense of Freud, I admit that the assumption of the unconscious has proved to be a useful auxiliary-hypothesis. As to the patient, it is unimportant whether he will not or cannot remember. In both cases we have to deal with a “skotoma” which we must remove.
The following case is in all respects instructive because it proves the power of infantile impressions in relation to sex-life, and also because it illustrates the advantages of my “active method.”
Mrs. Gina H., a thirty-four year old woman of asthenic type, very vivacious, emotional, of cheerful temperament, married for ten years and the mother of three healthy children, has been sent to me by her husband, a very busy gynaecologist, for treatment of complete frigidity. On her first visit she already declares that treatment is not necessary. She is not completely anesthetic, but only so with her husband. For three years she has had relations with another man who always produces in her an orgasm. With his first kiss she felt for the first time in her life a very strong sexual excitement which later by the consummation of coitus culminated in orgasm. She had already thought of a divorce, but could not do this because she did not wish to leave her children, her lover could not support her, and she was attached to her husband as a friend and companion. She must admit that her husband is the better character and that her lover (we shall call him Paul) has an irresolute and vacillating character she cannot respect. They