Let’s talk about sex!
In the Philippines and among other countries, talking about sex is often awkward and difficult. Karaniwan na may nahihiya pag-usapan ito o ‘di kaya’y banggitin man lang. Since to talk about it is sometimes seen as embarrassing or distressing, most people would choose not to talk about it. There could be a lot of reasons for this such as religion and culture, but when we think about health, we must break the stigma. The sooner we get over the unnecessary uneasiness the better we can take care of ourselves.
To understand our bodies and for our health care professionals to better diagnose us, we must be able to talk about sex and, in particular, how diabetes may affect sex. Lalong mahalaga na maging bukas ang pag-uusap tungkol sa mga problemang seksual. Otherwise, diabetes-related sexual problems may be overlooked, if not, altogether ignored.
Sex and Diabetes
For sex to happen, the people who are to engage in the act must feel comfortable, safe and in the right mood. There are several and other multi-dimensional factors related to exploring sexuality, but the health of the person’s body is the most crucial factor. According to a study by Mann et.al (2004), there are five (5) sexual standard functions where we can observe issues. Ito ang mga maaaring maapektuhan kung ang diabetes ay napapabayaan.
- libido (feeling of sexual desire)
- erection/lubrication (the enlargement or rigid state of genitals)
- ejaculation (the action of releasing semen)
- orgasm (reaching climax and feeling of sexual pleasure)
- and detumescence (relaxing of muscles post sex)
Whether it is about sexual performance or satisfaction, problems in these 5 factors should be considered. Having diabetes may be the reason for these concerns. And vice versa, we can also consider that experiencing issues in sex may be an indicator of having diabetes.
In this article, we would like to help our readers understand how sex can be impacted by diabetes. This intends to promote consciousness and encourage patients to open up about it with their doctors so it can be addressed and treated as needed.
Understanding Issues in Sex Due to Diabetes
Check for symptoms related to diabetes. These are some factors that may affect a person’s sex life:
- peeing more than usual (pag-ihi ng madalas)
- feeling very tired (pagkaramdam ng sobrang pagod)
- genital itching (pangangati ng ari)
- thrush (impeksyon sa ari)
- numbness or lack of feeling (kawalan or mahinang pakiramdam)
- hormonal imbalance (hindi maayos na regulasyon ng hormones)
Although these symptoms are not life threatening, it can affect sexual function for both men and women. Moving forward, it is important to differentiate how diabetes affects men and women sexually. Mahalagang matukoy ang pagkakaiba ng mga isyung ito sa mga kababaihan at kalalakihan.
For Him
Those who have type 2 diabetes, they may suffer from low testosterone levels. Although it serves multiple functions for the man’s body, it is the male’s sex hormone and it regulates the sexual drive. Thus, low testosterone results in low libido.
Diabetes can also reduce blood flow in the vascular system and when not managed, can damage nerve function as well. Along with these, sleep and mood are also affected. When these physiological challenges are encountered, men can experience erectile dysfunction which can mean either the inability to get an erection or keep one.
Other health problems that may also result in sexual dysfunction in men:
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- obesity (gaining weight)
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- retrograde ejaculation (where semen is released back to the bladder instead of being pushed out through the urethra).
But perhaps one of the more challenging conditions for men with diabetes is the risk of having the condition called Peyronie’s disease. This tends to scar the tissue inside the penis that results in a significantly curved and painful erection.
These issues literally hit below the belt. Without prevention or proper treatment it can only get worse.
For Her
Compared to men, detecting the relevance of sexual problems to women with diabetes may be more challenging. Nonetheless, here are some points that should be considered when consulting a healthcare professional.
Women with diabetes can experience nerve damage and/or the lack of estrogen which both can cause vaginal dryness. This means the inability to self-lubricate when engaging in sex which can make intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. Uncontrolled diabetes resulting in damage to the nerve or the blood vessels may cause lack of blood flow in the vagina and clitoris which can affect a woman’s arousal. Likewise, issues with neurovascular health affects orgasm as it deters sensation and makes reaching climax more difficult.
Other health problems that may also result in sexual dysfunction in women:
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- obesity (gaining weight)
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- soreness
- irregular periods
But for women, aside from affecting sexual drive and stamina, diabetes can also induce changes in the brain chemistry resulting in mood swings that can cause irritability and when it’s really bad, depression.
Medical studies aim to further understand the link of diabetes to sex-related problems. But while these studies suggest that there is a greater prevalence in men than in women, keep in mind that this can be attributed to less recorded observable circumstances in women than in men. More importantly, regardless of gender, it matters to admit to having sexual dysfunctions for health experts and doctors to help. Thus, instead of being discreet, health issues related to sex and diabetes should be discussed in the open. Understanding sooner is helping yourself win earlier rather than later.
Can diabetes be transmitted sexually?
The answer is a resounding no. Definitely not. In fact, diabetes is one of the four major types of non-communicable diseases. Rest assured that sexual problems related to diabetes are non-transmittable.
Todo Aruga sa Thyroid at Diabetes
Although there is no cure for diabetes, its symptoms and complications can be managed. This ultimately highlights why proper diagnosis is important. Ugaliing magpatingin sa doctor para sa tiyak na payong medikal. With your doctor’s prescription, MedChoice Pharma promotes affordable and reliable medications to ensure Better Choice, Better Lives.
Sa MedChoice Pharma, makikita ang mga gamot para sa type 2 diabetes gaya ng:
Zeltine -MR ®. Ito ay maaaring inumin ng buo at mabibili ng tig-10 sa isang pack o sa 60 piraso sa isang box. This medicine is available in 30mg and 60mg.
Gludin ®. Ang tablet na ito ay mabibili ng tig-10 sa isang pack o sa 100 piraso sa isang box. This can be taken at 500mg as a single dose or divided up to 2g if it is to be taken daily.
Soladin ®. Ang gamot na ito ay maintenance na pwedeng mabili ng tig-10 sa isang pack o sa 30 piraso sa isang box. This can be taken 1 tablet to 2 tablets daily.
Other medications are available, but it is important to consult a doctor first and remember to take a prescription before you can purchase any of these. Kailangan ng ibayong pag-iingat at kabuuang pag unawa sa gamit ng mga gamot na ito.
Visit MedChoice Pharma in our store locations or see more about our products for diabetes on our website.
References:
American Diabetes Association (2024). Health and Wellness: Sex and Diabetes. https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/sexual-health/sex-diabetes
World Health Organization (2024). Non-communicable Diseases—Diabetes. https://www.emro.who.int/noncommunicable-diseases/diabetes/index.html
Gotter and Bailey (2024). How Diabetes Affects Women. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/symptoms-in-women
Fletcher (2023). Recognizing Diabetes Symptoms in Men. https://www.healthline.com/health/recognizing-diabetes-symptoms-men
Mann, et. Al (2023). Sexual Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus – An Observational Cohort Study. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4103/am.am_36_23