11:19 PM
Tuesday 27 September 2022
Books – Muhammad Amin:
Rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease around the world, and it is rumored to have negative effects on sexual health, so what is true?
Read also: How does rheumatoid arthritis affect every part of the body?
In this regard, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Moneim, a consultant andrologist and urologist, said that rheumatoid arthritis patients face great difficulty in performing routine daily activities, including sexual intercourse.
Abdel-Moneim attributed the reason to the severity of symptoms, such as pain and swelling, and their worsening with high-intensity physical exertion, which makes intimacy a disturbing experience for rheumatoid patients.
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And the andrology consultant added that the sexual problems that a rheumatoid patient may suffer may be caused by the drugs used in treatment, such as cortisone.
According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine ISSM, more than half of people with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from impotence of some degree, with the disease causing erectile dysfunction in men and threatening women with vaginal dryness.
The association explained that rheumatoid arthritis may negatively affect sexual health in other ways, explaining that living with a chronic disease can cause depression and anxiety, both of which are psychological disorders that reduce the ability to practice intimacy, as well as desire.
In 2018, researchers found similar results. 50% or more of the rheumatoid patients participating in the study reported problems related to their sex life, such as pain during intercourse and decreased sex drive.
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However, there are guidelines that, if a rheumatoid patient regularly follows before intercourse, he will succeed in practicing intimacy efficiently, and they include:
Take a shower with warm water to relieve joint stiffness.
Putting warm compresses on the affected joint, to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Massage the affected joint.
Women with rheumatoid arthritis can overcome vaginal dryness, by using sexual lubricants during intercourse, to facilitate the process of penetration of the penis without feeling pain.