Patient Information Sheet #10, Sexuality and Lupus.The constant pain and fatigue associated with lupus may make it difficult to cope with the physical and emotional aspects of sex. In addition, some medications used to treat lupus can cause problems. Some of these drugs may decrease your sex drive. Other drugs may lessen sexual arousal sexual arousal Horny/horniness, randy/randiness Physiology A state of sexual 'yellow alert' which has a mental component–↑ cortical responsiveness to sensory stimulation, and physical component–↑ penile sensitivity, neural response to stimuli, or make it difficult to achieve an orgasm. Some people with lupus also have a condition known as Raynaud's phenomenon Raynaud's phenomenon n. Sensitivity of the hands to cold due to spasms of the digital arteries, resulting in blanching and numbness of the fingers. . Exposure to cold causes spasms in the small blood vessels Blood vessels Tubular channels for blood transport, of which there are three principal types: arteries, capillaries, and veins. Only the larger arteries and veins in the body bear distinct names. of the finger and toes. This reduces blood flow and may cause fingers and toes Fingers and Toes See also anatomy; body, human; hands. adactyly a birth defect in which one or more fingers or toes are missing. dactyl a digit; a finger or toe. See also measurement. to turn white or blue and numb. During sex, the flow of blood increases to the genital area and decreases to other areas of the body, including the fingers. This can cause the numbness and pain of Raynaud's phenomenon to occur. Other problems also can interfere with sexual activity, such as oral and genital sores, vaginal dryness, and yeast infections. You may feel less attractive because of skin rashes that are difficult to control. Your partner may not understand the changes in your desire, the fact that you may feel unattractive, or the physical problems you are experiencing. He or she may think you are no longer attracted to him or her. On the other hand, you may feel your partner is avoiding you, when he or she is trying to be sensitive to your needs and is afraid of hurting you or causing you more pain during sexual contact. These issues may be hard for you to talk about. However, a mutual willingness to have open and honest discussions with your partner can play an important part in understanding the issues that are affecting your relationship. If the two of you cannot resolve your problems together, seek help from your doctor, nurse, or a counselor experienced in working with people who have lupus. Caring For Yourself * Keep a healthy attitude about yourself. Being positive can play an important part in maintaining your sexuality. * If you notice a change in sexual desire after starting a new medication, tell your doctor or nurse. * Ask your doctor if he or she can prescribe an anti-inflammatory or pain medication that you can take before having sex. * Be sure you are well rested. Consider taking a nap just before sexual activity. * Relax and ease some of the pain with a warm shower or bath just before sexual activity. * If you have Raynaud's phenomenon, increase circulation to your fingers and toes by taking a warm bath before sex. Raising the temperature in the bedroom will also help. * If you have vaginal dryness, use a water-based personal lubricant during sex. * If you have a vaginal yeast infection Vaginal yeast infection An overgrowth of fungus in the vaginal area. Mentioned in: Jock Itch , call your doctor so that he or she can prescribe the medication you need. Yeast infections are easily treated. * If some physical problems make certain sexual activity difficult, don't be afraid to explore with your partner other ways to achieve mutual pleasure and satisfaction. ADDITIONAL NOTES -- From LUPUS: A Patient Care Guide for Nurses and Other Health Professionals, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal musculoskeletal /mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal/ (-skel´e-t'l) pertaining to or comprising the skeleton and muscles. mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal adj. Relating to or involving the muscles and the skeleton. and Skin Diseases/National Institutes of Health Patient Information Sheet #10 Patient Information Sheets Outline Credits Acknowledgments Introduction PDF (Portable Document Format) The de facto standard for document publishing from Adobe. On the Web, there are countless brochures, data sheets, white papers and technical manuals in the PDF format. Order Form Home 1. Erythematosus 2. Advances 3. Tests 4. Care 5. Medications 6. Psychosocial Aspects 7. Patient Info. 8. Resources National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, or NIAMS, is an institute of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. (NIAMS NIAMS National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (USA) ) National Institutes of Health (NIH "Not invented here." See digispeak. NIH - The United States National Institutes of Health. ) Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2350 January 26, 1999 |
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