>> MAUREEN MCGRATH: As a registered nurse
and sexual health educator I am familiar
with the association between sexuality and overall
physical and emotional health.
In fact I authored the book called “Sex and Health:
why one can't come without the other.”
Your health is your wealth.
When a disease threatens your health it affects your quality
of life and your sexual health.
This is true for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,
two of the most common inflammatory bowel
diseases or IBD’s.
These are chronic conditions that can affect
both physical and mental health.
IBD causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract
and particularly in the case of Crohn's disease can
disrupt your body's ability to digest food,
absorb nutrients and eliminate waste products.
IBD can result in diarrhea,
significant pelvic and abdominal pain
and unintended weight loss.
Other expressions of IBD include arthritis,
skin problems, liver disease,
kidney stones and eye inflammation.
These symptoms can affect your sexual health.
Sexuality involves your sexual feelings
and thoughts as well as finding other people
physically sexually or emotionally attractive.
We are sexual beings and sex is an important part of life.
Despite this sex remains taboo and many falsely believe
that individuals with chronic health conditions aren't sexual
having a disease does not eliminate sexual
desire and interest.
In fact those living with IBD rate sexual functioning
and body image highly among concerns
affecting their quality of life.
Both men and women fear that some of the symptoms of IBD
will reduce their sex drive, interfere with intercourse,
compromise their sexual performance,
affect their attractiveness,
negatively affect intimacy and relationship quality
and cause negative feelings about their physical appearance.
For example,
it's a challenge to feel sexy when you're regularly
sitting on a toilet due to frequent painful diarrhea
and you might not feel up to it if you're
suffering from fatigue.
If you have IBD you might experience changes
to your appearance involving weight loss or gain,
hair loss,
or skin manifestations either from the disease itself
or from medications used to treat it.
If you're living with IBD you can be sexually active
but you might need a bit more focus on finding
the right partner.
First you should address your own sexual self esteem
in any body image issues as these might get in the way
of a fulfilling sex life.
If you have a partner already take the time to share how
you feel both physically and emotionally
as these are important parts of a healthy relationship.
If you are feeling particularly unwell
by expressing this your partner will know to give
you space or suggest cuddle time without more
intimate contact.
It is important for your partner to see
you as the person you are not as the disease
you are living with.
If you are dating you might need to take a bit of extra
time discerning whether the other person is truly kind
and understanding by sharing your condition
gradually over time.
This way you'll be able to build a relationship
with someone who cares about you and who will
accommodate any issues.
You might be surprised to learn how many genuine caring
individuals are out there who are willing to love
you for who you are.
Negative body image is associated
with depressive symptoms low self-esteem mental
and emotional health disordered eating and other
forms of poor self care.
It is also related to decreased sexual
satisfaction and impairments in interpersonal relationships.
A recent study found that body image
dissatisfaction remained stable even when disease
activity improved and was associated with lower
health related quality of life.
The more disease related symptoms a person
had the less they were satisfied with their body image.
In this study female participants had more disease
activity a higher symptom burden and a longer duration of steroid
use compared to the male participants.
Females also suffer from more skin irritations.
Overall women had greater body image dissatisfaction.
Interestingly both males and females
who were living with ilecolonic Crohn's
disease had greater body image satisfaction as well.
You might be wondering why this is important
to sexual health?
Body image dissatisfaction places you at risk
for depression and low self-esteem and can affect
your relationships especially your vulnerability
openness to be in a relationship,
general wellness and fatigue. It can cause shame and anxiety,
preoccupation with your weight,
shape or appearance and feelings that your body
is flawed compared to others. Sexual desire is complex,
especially for women who tend to experience higher rates
of body image dissatisfaction.
But men suffer as well and for most of the same
reasons including fatigue, stress, unresolved conflict,
depression and pain.
IBD and men can also cause erectile dysfunction
and premature ejaculation.
If you're suffering from these conditions it's best to consult
a health care professional.
Self care is critical to healthy sexuality.
If the symptoms and experiences of living
with IBD are making it difficult for you to enjoy sex
then working on yourself care can help you feel
better and improve your sex life.
Self care includes managing anxiety using a range of healthy
strategies such as meditation,
talk therapy and medication if needed.
You may also want to sweat it out.
Exercise boosts immunity, reduces inflammation,
lowers stress and will help you sleep well each
night which is another important aspect of self care.
However we know that if you're living with IBD and your
energy is low then you might only be
able to do this in moderation.
Nutrition is important especially when you have
a digestive disease.
So try to focus on eating healthy foods
that are nutritious and make you feel good.
Having IBD does not mean you have to neglect
your sexy side.
It's time to get into the new you go out
and go online and purchase some clothes
that make you look and feel great.
If you're into lingerie there are a wide variety of styles
to choose from today that are flattering
and will help to disguise a stoma or an appliance.
If you have an ostomy. Sex is a vital aspect of living,
loving and overall well-being.
It has physical and mental benefits that last beyond
the moment including a reduced risk of heart disease,
strengthened immune function,
better sleep and improved self-esteem.
Healthy living combined with the treatment regimen
prescribed by your gastroenterologist will
help you feel well and build your confidence.
You are more than the disease you're living with.
You are a sexual being first and deserve a loving
relationship and more than a hot gut,
you deserved hot sex. I'm Maureen McGrath,
on behalf of the Gastrointestinal Society.
For more information about sexuality,
go to my web site: Maureen McGrath dot com.
And to learn more about IBD go to bad gut dot org.