How Diabetes Can Affect Your Sex Life
If you have diabetes, you’re familiar with how the disease affects your physical and mental health. But did you know that diabetes might also be impacting your sexual health?
Men living with diabetes may experience a range of sexual side effects as a result of their condition, including performance anxiety, reduced libido, and even erectile dysfunction. If you’re struggling with any of these sexual issues due to diabetes, it’s important to know that you can still enjoy a fulfilling sex life.
Keep reading to learn how diabetes affects your sexual health and how to find solutions for regaining control over your sex life.
Stress and anxiety over sexual performance
Every so often, most people experience some level of anxiety over their sexual performance. Whether you’re being intimate with a new partner for the first time or trying something new with your long-term partner, it’s normal to have some nerves on occasion.
However, for some people with diabetes, the anxiety that surrounds sexual activity is always around. It may be because you’re concerned about your insulin pump and what your partner might think about it. Alternatively, you could feel stressed during intercourse if your weight has recently fluctuated due to diabetes.
In either case, your nerves may affect your sexual performance and your ability to enjoy the moment with your partner. But with treatment, you can keep your emotions under control. We’ll discuss easy-to-access treatment options at the end of this article.
Decreased libido and stamina
It’s typical for men and women to notice a reduction in their libido as they age. There are a number of reasons to blame for this, including hormonal changes, stress, and relationship problems. Diabetes can also contribute to a lessened libido.
When your blood glucose levels are high, you may find yourself losing interest in sex. This is a well-documented side effect of diabetes in both men and women. Reduced sexual desire can also be connected to medications you’re taking for conditions such as high blood pressure or depression.
If you have diabetes and you’ve noticed a decline in your desire to engage in sexual activity, it’s important to seek treatment. Your doctor will discuss your options for boosting your libido, which may include medication or counselling.
Erectile dysfunction and other sexual disorders
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual disorder that affects men of all ages. In fact, experts suggest that about 30% of the male population deals with erectile dysfunction, which prevents you from achieving a satisfactory erection for sexual activity.
Erectile dysfunction is caused several different issues, including psychological and psychogenic factors. But men who have diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction — particularly if your diabetes is not under control.
When you have diabetes, high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage (also called diabetic neuropathy), which then damages your blood vessels. As a result, your nerves can’t effectively transmit signals to your penis to indicate that you’re stimulated. Also, it’s harder for blood flow to reach your penis to create an erection, leading to erectile dysfunction.
In addition, nerve damage and blood flow problems can often lead to other medical issues, including high blood pressure or heart disease. These problems are typically treated with medication, which can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
In some cases, diabetes can also cause a condition called retrograde ejaculation (or dry orgasm). If you have retrograde ejaculation, your semen enters your bladder rather than out through your penis when you have an orgasm. The condition in itself isn’t harmful to you, but it can play a role in infertility.
Whether you have diabetes or not, untreated sexual dysfunction can have a detrimental effect on your mental health. Many men suffering from erectile dysfunction say that they feel depressed or anxious as a result of their condition. If left untreated, erectile dysfunction can also cause relationship problems and drive a wedge between you and your partner.
Getting treatment for sexual dysfunction caused by diabetes
While this may paint a grim picture for men with diabetes, the truth is that treatment for sexual dysfunction is easily accessible and discreet. If you’re struggling with erectile dysfunction, your doctor may recommend a number of treatment options to alleviate your condition.
Commonly, prescription medication is used to treat ongoing erectile dysfunction. This medication may be administered in the form of tablets, injections, or through innovative oral strips called Rapid Oral Strip Technology (ROST). ROST is applied directly to your tongue and bypasses the stomach and liver to begin working quickly.
To find out which ED treatment option is right for you, you’ll need to consult a licenced medical professional. Fortunately, you can do this without even scheduling an appointment with your regular GP. Instead, you can consult an online medical practice like Men’s Health Direct, in order to treat your erectile dysfunction (or other sexual disorder) from the comfort of home.
Men’s Health Direct is an online medical clinic that specialises in diagnosing and treating men’s health issues, including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and hair loss. We aim to break the stigma that surrounds men’s sexual health by providing a professional and confidential service for men across Australia.
With Men’s Health Direct, accessing treatment is simple. It starts with a confidential discussion with one of our licenced medical experts. During this chat, we will ask about your medical history and the sexual symptoms that you are currently experiencing. From there, Men’s Health Direct will create a treatment plan that is tailored just for you, taking into account your needs and preferences. If medications are required, our pharmacy team will fill them and ship them directly to you in discreet packaging. Once you receive them, you can begin treatment and start feeling more confident about your sex life.
To learn about treatment options from Men’s Health Direct, call us today on 1800 200 500 or request an appointment at a time that works for you. Our doctors are available from Monday to Friday, and the Men’s Health Direct medical support team is available 24/7.
