Turns out, it’s her problem too. Like men, women with diabetes are at increased risk for sexual intimacy issues. Yet a number of women are reluctant to talk to their doctors, even though there are plenty of actual or potential problems to discuss.
According to a new study in the journal Diabetes Care, more than one-third of females with Type 1 diabetes have some sort of sexual difficulty. The research, conducted by Leuven University in Belgium, found that women with diabetes may face a whole host of sexual problems, amongst them:
• Loss of libido
• Reduced lubrication
• Difficulty reaching orgasm
• Reduced arousal
Yet instead of taking matters lying down, women with diabetes can combat these potential consequences in abiding by the following:
Regulate your blood sugar. This is vital in so many ways. Keeping your glucose under control:
1. Minimizes the risk of vaginal infection and urinary tract infections, both of which can cause pain during intercourse.
2. Increases your chance of conceiving if desired.
3. Helps you to avoid microcirculation. When blood sugar levels go uncontrolled, the tiny blood vessels that impact nerve sensation end up limiting a woman’s ability to fully experience any kind of stimulation. When left untreated, nerve damage may result, ultimately affecting her response to sexual stimulation.
Treat vaginal infections immediately. Women with diabetes are often subject to chronic or frequent vaginal infections. If left untreated, a vaginal infection can leave the lining of the vagina raw and irritated. Women may ultimately avoid sex because of the pain that can result.
Talk to your physician about the best contraceptive method for you. Women with diabetes may experience problems with birth control pills disturbing their diabetic control. Alternatives, like the diaphragm or cervical cap, may be more appropriate for you and keep you sexually active when conception is a concern.
Arm yourself with lubricants. Using lubes like K-Y jelly will help you in fighting vaginal dryness and pain for more comfortable sex. This further helps to thwart any risk of low libido that can arise from sex no longer being physically pleasurable.
Ask about your options in treating sexual disorders. Find out, for example, if localized hormone treatments for lubrication or sensation issues are appropriate for you. Women with diabetes may experience decreased blood flow to the clitoris and other erectile tissue. Talk to your doctor about your options in treating such.
Discuss your level of sexual satisfaction with your doctor. This should be done even in cases where your physician is not inquiring about your sex life. Unlike men, sexual disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated in women with diabetes. This is because her clues that something has gone awry aren’t as evident as his lack of erectile response.
Finally, consider sex counseling or therapy for intimacy issues stemming from diabetes. Such should complement the work you’re doing with your physician. This effort is especially important for women (or their partners) feeling the psychological burden of a sexual problem. The study in Diabetes Care found that depression is a key factor in sex problems. Working with a sex counselor or therapist about emotional or relationship issues you’re fielding can help you and your partner get to a better place.
More than anything, be proactive in having your needs met. Having diabetes does not have to do in your sex life!
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Check out Diabetes: Does It Have to Doom Your Sex Life? for more information about diabetes and sex.
To learn more about dating someone with a disability, see Dating Others with a Disability: When It’s Desirable.
