The link between Fibromyalgia and sex is important because if you have fibromyalgia, you may also be having Problems with your sex life or relationships. You could be experiencing loss of libido with fibromyalgia or have trouble with sexual performance. It’s also possible your libido is healthy, but deep muscle discomfort, swelling and stiffness may keep you from enjoying sex the way you used to.
One of the reasons people have decreased libido, in both males and females, is because your adrenal glands are not working at the level they are should to be. Your adrenal glands are 2 walnut like structures sitting right above your 2 kidneys and they’re your “stress glands”. If they are not working correctly, your body may not be able to produce enough testosterone, and more frequently then not, you won’t be “in the mood”.
Fibromyalgia and sex do not must be jointly exclusive. Physical intimacy is an vital part of any relationship, and the inability to have sex can be a major stressor in your life, making your fibromyalgia worse. I’m sure a few of you can’t recollect when the last time you had sex was, in part because you simply don’t feel like it but partly because you are worried about the pain during and afterward.
Some fibromyalgia patients give up romantic desires for fear of further injury and pain BUT being intimate with your other half is still possible! With fibromyalgia pain and tender points, you need to work WITH your partner to find the most comfortable position during sexual intercourse. As an example, if you have fibromyalgia with low back pain, you may find that having your partner on top or lying on his or her side is most comfortable for you. Or, if you are a woman who has fibromyalgia and hip pain, you could use a pillow between your knees to stabilize your body during sex.
Moist heat, including soaking in a warm bath, can help ease fibromyalgia discomfort and may permit you to enjoy sexual intercourse – or any exercise – without added pain. Heat increases blood flow to the site and decreases stiffness, important because, together with discomfort, rigidity is a key indication of fibromyalgia. Regular moist heat applications or warm baths may help momentarily to relieve muscle pain or tender point pain, reduce muscle cramps, and reduce inflammation.
When using damp heat, confirm it’s not TOO warm or you can burn your skin! You might soak in a hot bath for at least 15 minutes before sexual intercourse or other physical activity to get the full benefit. You can also soak in a warm bath after sexual intercourse or other physical activity. Other popular kinds of moist heat include a warm shower (sit on a chair, if needed), warm whirlpool or jacuzzi, heated swimming pool, and a moist heating pad.
Talk to your partner to get a position that’s comfy for the two of you, and make sure you are in control at all times, so that you can stop right away if the pain become intolerable.
A healthy sex life is important for plenty of reasons. Not only does sex reinforce an intimate relationship, but sex boosts endorphins. Those are the body’s natural opioids that help ease pain and increase well-being. Talking openly with your doctor and following 1 or 2 practical tips can help you resolve issues linked with fibromyalgia, pain, and sex. Then you can begin to take pleasure in this aspect of your life again.
Most vitally, have sex with somebody you love and terribly committed with. It will make it much more enjoyable.
Now go and have yourself a good time.
Dr. Steven Yen has been treating fibromyalgia naturally, without the use of drugs for patients in his private practice since 2002. Natural Fibromyalgia Treatment blog FREE Discomfort Alleviation resources