These 7 health problems could be sabotaging your sex life
Being intimate with your partner is not just physically important but emotionally fulfilling as well. There are times, however, when low libido makes it hard to get in the mood for sex.
Truth be told, there are multiple reasons that can cause this but it could definitely be pointing towards an underlying health condition you need to look into.
It isn’t just reproductive issues that can be a hindrance to your sex life. Many other health issues can contribute to it as well. In fact, according to psychologists and gynaecologists, a shift in hormones can also lead to a drop in sex drive. One of the most common examples of this is menopause.
Here are 7 health conditions that can be affecting your sex life and need to be taken care of:
1. Arthritis
Pain and arthritis go hand-in-hand. Plus, any deformity of the bones can make it difficult to experiment when it comes to your sex life. Moreover, certain sex positions can put pressure on the joints, leading to severe cramps. Due to this, many people start avoiding sex.
“Fatigue is another reason that comes with arthritis. Medicines that are given to the patients also have an effect on their libido. Moreover, arthritis can reduce flexibility in the body which directly impacts sexual performance. This also leads to physical awkwardness which can cause the person to get conscious, reducing their interest in coitus”, says Dr Sudeshna Ray, consultant obstetrics and gynaecologist at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai.
2. Diabetes
We already know that high blood sugar can be extremely harmful to our health. While having sex, blood flows to the reproductive organs and other parts of the body. But, damaged blood vessels hamper the blood flow which has the effect of lowering the libido.
“Diabetes is known to cause sexual dysfunction, both in men and women. Not only does it decreases your sex drive, but it also lowers the lubrication which makes it very painful to have sex”, she explains.
3. Depression
A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that depression and other mental health issues have devastating effects on one’s sex life. You can face intimacy challenges like difficulties with sexual self-esteem, feeling sexually distant from a partner, trouble communicating about sex, being unsure about how to initiate sex, and a flatlining interest leading to no sex in your life.
4. Cancer
“When your overall well-being is under jeopardy, you can’t quite think of sex. Moreover, the medicines that are given also affect the sex drive of the person. Plus, due to chemotherapy and other hormonal therapies, the energy levels are so low that the person can’t think about sex”, she explained.
5. Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive chronic disease which affects your brain. Sexual arousal starts in your head with the release of certain hormones but due to MS, this signalling stops working properly. This causes you to experience a low sex drive. Also, medicines contribute to reduced libido.
6. PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD occurs due to trauma which you might have gone through earlier in life. There are higher chances of it affecting your sex life if the trauma was sexual in nature. “At times, it feels like reliving the trauma and you find it hard to initiate the act”, says Dr Bhavna Barmi, a clinical psychologist.
7. Heart diseases
“For performing a sexual act, you need to have stamina. This goes both for men and women. But, if you have a heart condition then palpitations, breathlessness, and a lack of energy can restrain you from going ahead with the act”, explains Dr Ray.
Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes can also cause heart issues that might hamper your sex life.
A low sex drive could definitely be causing problems in your sex life but it could also be pointing towards a more serious health issue. Hence, it is best to visit a medical professional for advice.