How Does Diabetes Affect Your Sex Life? Here’s the Explanation

Not only affecting diet, diabetes is also known to have an impact on various aspects of life, including male and female sexual satisfaction. How bad is the impact of this disease on sexual life? Check out the explanation in the following review.

Sexual Problems Faced by Women

Diabetes occurs when the body cannot use insulin optimally and causes blood sugar to rise. In the long term, this condition will cause complications such as nerve damage and heart problems. Both of these problems will result in sexual health.

In women, sexual problems that can occur include:

1. Decreased libido

A study involving 127 married women found that women with diabetes had lower sex desire scores than women without diabetes.

Decreased libido or sexual arousal is caused by nerve damage, feeling pain during intercourse, and psychological problems.

The use of an insulin pump and the presence of injection bruises can affect self-confidence. This certainly has an impact on the desire to have sex in women with diabetes.

2. Dry Vagina

Dry vagina is common in women with diabetes. High blood sugar causes damage to the blood vessels in the vaginal area. This condition can cause decreased lubrication and sexual intercourse can be very painful.

A study involving 2,270 participants revealed that women who received treatment with insulin experienced twice as many difficulties in lubrication as women without diabetes.

3. Vaginal infection

Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing infections in the female area, such as bladder infections and cystitis. Of course this will affect the ability to enjoy intercourse.

When diabetes is not well controlled, blood sugar can spike. An increase in blood sugar can make it easier for yeast to grow in the female area.

Also Read: 9 causes of vaginal odor, from sexually transmitted infections to stress

Sexual Problems Faced Man

Studies show that men with diabetes often have low levels of testosterone. This condition will cause changes in sexual desire.

However, the main health problem in the sexual health of men with diabetes is the inability to maintain an erection or erectile dysfunction.

Boston University Medical Center reports that 50 percent of men with diabetes will experience erectile dysfunction within 5 to 10 years of the first diagnosis.

An erection occurs when blood rushes to the area of ​​the penis. However, diabetes can damage blood vessels, so blood flow to the penis will also be disrupted.

In addition, diabetes can also cause nerve damage. This condition will make it more difficult for men to maintain an erection.

How to Overcome Impotence in Diabetics

Keeping blood sugar levels normal is an important step in preventing nerve damage. Thus, various health problems related to nerves can also be prevented, including problems with sexual health.

Several ways can be done to maintain blood sugar levels, namely therapy with insulin, taking drugs, and checking blood sugar levels regularly.

Treatment for Men

There are several medications that are commonly prescribed by doctors to increase blood flow to the penis and improve a man’s ability to maintain an erection.

However, the drug is not suitable for all men, especially for men who have high blood pressure or heart problems. Therefore, before taking strong drugs, it is necessary to consult with a doctor first.

Apart from taking drugs, there are also other methods that can be done, namely by using a vacuum pump and injection into the penis area.

Also Read: 10 Aphrodisiac Foods to Increase Sexual Arousal

Treatment for Women

Women can use water-based lubricants during intercourse to reduce pain.

In addition, you also need to maintain cleanliness in the female area to reduce the risk of infection in the female area.

Lifestyle Changes

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an important way for men and women with diabetes to support physical health, including sexual health. Some ways you can do this include:

• Implement a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain ideal body weight.

This method can support overall body health and can increase self-confidence.

Apart from that, you also need to lower your stress level. Some ways that can be done are:

• Meditation.
• Read a book.
• Sport.
• Listening to music.

Taking time each day to do things you enjoy can help relieve stress in people with diabetes.

Now,, that’s some sexual health problems that are commonly faced by men and women with diabetes. In addition to applying some of the methods that have been mentioned, you can consult with a doctor to deal with the problems in your sexual life that you are facing.

DoctorHealthy | © 2022 PT Media Kesehatan Indonesia. Copyright Protected