human sexual feelings and behaviors are complex and heavily influenced by emotional and physical factors.
A mesothelioma diagnosis can affect a person's body image, sexual functioning, relationships, identity and self-esteem. Various treatment options can potentially affect libido and sexual function in some degree.
A good place to begin to understand how the disease related to asbestos and its treatments affect your sex life is to ask your doctor.
When patients and their partners are well informed on how mesothelioma and its treatment can affect their intimacy and sex life, they may be able to talk to each other and to manage these challenges.
In addition to treatment, side effects caused by disease or treatment, such as fatigue and stress can affect a patient's ability helping to enjoy sex.
stress
in recent decades, research in the field of sexology (the study of sexuality and sexual function) has shown that stress can negatively affect his desire and ability to have sex
Living with a mesothelioma diagnosis is stressful for a variety of reasons, including :.
- the uncertainty of the future
- financial constraint
- medical bills
- fear of pain and death
- worried relatives
When our bodies are chronically stressed, they produce too much cortisol ?? a stress hormone known to suppress sexual desire and sometimes our natural ability to engage in sexual intercourse. The condition can manifest as ED in men and painful intercourse in women.
Fatigue
People with mesothelioma often report feeling tired.
The surgery and chemotherapy causes fatigue and fatigue for many reasons. Our body heals most effectively while we sleep and rest. We feel fatigue that we have to take it easy and allow our bodies to heal.
mesothelioma treatment recovery occurs at the cellular level and our body prioritizes cellular repair to give us energy to perform other normal activities such as household chores, exercise or sex.
Feeling too tired for sex can be frustrating for couples and can lead to animosity if the torque doesn ?? t understand the physiological reasons behind such fatigue.
surgery
surgery to remove the cancer or the accumulation of fluid can be a vital treatment option for patients with mesothelioma that can improve the length and quality of life. However, patients may experience postoperative pain during their healing period. Research shows that uncontrolled pain leads to high blood pressure and is usually stressful on the body.
Of course, most people are not in the mood for sex when they are in pain. When patients are willing to engage in sexual intercourse after surgery, their partners can often refuse to fear harm them.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, meaning it affects the entire body.
Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, gastrointestinal (GI) distress, hormonal changes, irritation of the mucous membrane and hair loss.
When most people feel nauseous or develop a GI stress, it is understandable that they don ?? t feel like having sex. hormonal changes induced by chemotherapy in men and women affect energy levels, temperature regulation, mood and libido.
Some patients have weight loss or a significant gain or lose their hair after chemotherapy. Many people believe that their physical attributes, such as hair and body shape, are part of what makes them sexually attractive to their partner. Looking in the mirror and feeling unattractive can have a negative impact on intimacy and sex drive of a ??.
For many couples, sex is something they do, but not ?? t really talk.
When couples understand how mesothelioma and its treatment can affect libido and sexual function, they are better able to discuss their thoughts and feelings about their sex lives and how to improve their intimacy as a couple.
This report is the second in an occasional series on Asbestos.com on mesothelioma and sexual intimacy.
