Sexual healing: The case for a medical exception to the ban on prostitution

Sexual dysfunction in young people is on the rise. This trend has dramatic implications for key state interests, including fertility rates, economic growth, and overall well‐being. The serious consequences associated with poor sexual health in childbearing‐age citizens call for creative solutions. One such solution is Surrogate Partner Therapy (“SPT”), a highly effective form of treatment for people suffering from severe cases of psychogenic sexual dysfunction. SPT establishes a triadic relationship among the patient, a licensed mental health professional, and a trained surrogate partner who may use intimate contact to instill patients with the skills necessary to form healthy connections. However, because its unorthodox methods likely violate state anti‐prostitution laws, SPT is rarely utilized. This article argues that, given SPT's promising potential to address the rise of psychosexual ailments in young people, state governments should create a limited medical exception to their prohibitions on prostitution.