Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women – Part 2

Continued from prior blog.

Issues for both sexes:

• Urinary infections are more common in people with poorly controlled diabetes and can cause discomfort for women during intercourse and for men during urination and ejaculation. These generally are temporary complications, but they can recur. Sexual activity should be stopped during treatment of urinary tract and yeast infections, which also are relatively common in people with diabetes.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be transmitted easily because of the dry, cracked skin found in many people who have diabetes. This makes it important to practice safe sex.
• Chronic high blood glucose levels can lead to reduced testosterone and may contribute to decreased sexual interest (libido).
• Chronic high blood glucose can lead to abnormal nerve function, leading to pain with only light touch.
• Heightened sense of pain associated with neuropathy can make sexual relations uncomfortable.
• Because intercourse is exercise, people with diabetes should watch for signs of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) after sex.

Other factors:

• People with diabetes (particularly men whose disease is poorly controlled) may have too little or too much of certain hormones, such as prolactin, testosterone, or thyroid hormone. Generally these conditions can be treated with pills.
• Certain drugs for heart problems, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, pain, allergies, and weight control sometimes cause impotence. Switching medications may solve the problem.
• Stress and other mental health problems can cause or worsen sexual dysfunction, as can smoking and alcohol use.
• Physical problems not caused by diabetes, such as accidents that injure nerves, prostate surgery, and spinal cord injuries, can cause impotence.

See your doctor: Make an appointment to see your doctor if you are experiencing sexual dysfunction. Your doctor should perform a physical exam, which includes:

• Medical history, including questions about morning erections (a sign that the impotence probably is not due to a physical problem); how long the problem has occurred; and whether you are experiencing anxiety or stress
• A physical exam and review of diabetes complications
• Lab tests to check hormone levels
• Review of medicines taken
• Occasionally additional testing, including measurements of erections, an ultrasound, and/or neurological and other tests done at the doctor's office or by you at home.

People with diabetes can lower their risk of sexual and urologic problems by keeping their blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels close to the target numbers their doctor recommends. Being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight can also help prevent the long-term complications of diabetes. For those who smoke, quitting will lower the risk of developing sexual and urologic problems due to nerve damage and also lower the risk for other health problems related to diabetes, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

For information from another source, please read this article.

Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women – Part 1

In my research for this topic, the sources on the first ten pages were between 7 to 1 and 9 to 1 about the problem happening for men. In addition, many of the listings were about men that did not have diabetes. I don't believe for a minute that women don't have problems and I base that on TV advertising recently for products for women in menopause and post menopause to make sex less painful (diabetes not mentioned).

Out-of-control blood sugar levels can lead to blood vessel and nerve damage that hamper sexual performance and enjoyment. This can cause diabetes-related sexual dysfunction in men as well as in women. Men and women with diabetes also should be aware of sexual function issues that affect both sexes.

Other factors can cause or exacerbate sexual dysfunction, including psychological issues, self-consciousness, and fear of failure. If you are experiencing impotence or sexual dysfunction, it's important to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis of your condition.

Sexual problems (sexual dysfunction) are common among people with diabetes, particularly in older men who have had diabetes for years. In addition, many medical experts believe that women with diabetes experience sexual difficulties as a result of complications from the disease. People who experience sexual difficulties can lead more enjoyable, fulfilling sexual lives by learning about common causes and symptoms of sexual difficulties, treatment options, and how to talk it over with a sex partner.

At any given time an estimated 30 million American men experience impotence (erectile dysfunction), defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse more frequent than one out of four times. Sexual difficulties in people with diabetes are not always related to their disease.

Impotence can occur in men of any age, but it most often affects older men. A recent study of 1,300 males found some degree of erection difficulty in 52 percent of participants ages 40 to 70. Over 50 percent of the estimated 10 million men with diagnosed type 2 diabetes experience impotence. In men whose diabetes is well controlled, the rate of impotence is about 30 percent. Approximately 35 percent of women with diabetes may experience some form of sexual dysfunction related to their disease. Of people with complications from diabetes, 50 to 70 percent of men and 40 to 50 percent of women may have sexual difficulties because of nerve damage.

Sexual dysfunction in men:

• Diabetes can cause nerve and artery damage in the genital area, disrupting the blood flow necessary for an erection. This is more common in older men who have had diabetes for a long time. High cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity - all common among men with diabetes - as well as smoking, can contribute to the problem.
• Some men with diabetes experience retrograde ejaculation, which means that the ejaculate goes backward into the bladder instead of being discharged during climax. This condition does not affect orgasm, but it can make it difficult to father a child.

Sexual dysfunction in women:

• Diabetes-related nerve damage can cause vaginal dryness that makes intercourse uncomfortable.
• Nerve damage also can lead to loss of sensation in the genital area, making orgasm difficult or impossible to achieve.

Continued in the next blog.