Beating Sexual Problems
Tweet Sexual problems can be disheartening but they needn’t take all the pleasure out of your sex life. This article looks at how to work around sexual difficulties if treatment is either not possible or not desired. Direct treatments are covered within our guides on erectile dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction and low libido. Loss of sensation Diabetes can affect our nerves, in the form of neuropathy, and loss of sensation in the penis, clitoris and vagina is possible as well. Trying out different positions may help to find positions which enhance sensation and therefore make reaching orgasm easier. Oral sex Oral sex can be pleasurable to give or receive whether climax is involved or not. Oral sex can be a good option if you’re having unexpected difficulties and can also keep your sex life alive and kicking when sexual dysfunction is a longer term issue. When climax is unobtainable Climax may not always be possible for one reason or another. Reasons for having difficulty reaching climax include having loss of sensitivity, psychological issues and having low blood sugar. As we age, we may find it harder to reach climax. If an orgasm seems unobtainable, switch the focus of your love making either onto pleasuring your partner or in building an intimate sensual bond. If you can have penetrative sex but cannot orgasm, positions which maximise body to body contact, eye contact and kissing can be sensual and fulfilling without necessarily requiring climax. Communicate with your partner If you are having difficulties, it’s important to let your partner know. If you’re not having as much sex as you used to, chances are that your partner will have recognised even if it hasn’t been mentioned. If you address the issue, it’ll save your partner from being anxious and Continue reading >>
Can Oral Sex Cause Yeast Infections?
I’m a guy and I’m concerned that I’m passing yeast infections to my female partners. Over the past several years, I’ve had three girlfriends and they’ve all come down with yeast infections at some point during the relationship. My current girlfriend got a yeast infection after our first sexual contact (I gave her oral sex). Could I be the cause? Thanks for your question. I appreciate your concern for your partners’ health and I’ll do my best to help you understand what researchers know about oral sex and yeast infections… Yes, it’s possible that oral sex can lead to yeast infections…but that’s not the whole story. Yeast infections are very common for women…so common, in fact, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate about 75% of women will have had at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. Although women are more likely to get yeast infections if they’re sexually active, women who aren’t sexually active get them, too. As for oral sex and female yeast infections…a 2003 study published in the Journal of Women’s Health indicates that women who receive oral sex are a little more likely to get repeated yeast infections than women who don’t, but researchers aren’t sure why. It might have something to do with saliva, or it might have to do with something else. Regardless, when you perform oral sex on a girlfriend, I encourage you to consider using a latex dental dam. This may help prevent your girlfriend from getting a yeast infection, and it can also help prevent the spread of other STDs that can be transmitted through oral sex…like chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes. Is vaginal sex associated with yeast infections, too? Yes. According to research published in the American Journal of Public Health, women are m Continue reading >>
What’s Your Risk For Oral Health Problems?
Oral health problems can seem like something that happens to other people — until the day you run into trouble at the dentist’s office. Don’t get caught unaware — know your oral health risks. There are many things that can raise your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and even oral cancers. So what’s your risk? You’re at higher risk of oral health problems like decay, infection, and cancer if you: Are a woman having hormonal changes. For women, hormonal changes around their period, menopause, and during pregnancy can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis). If left untreated, it can develop into a more serious gum disease called periodontitis. Use tobacco. People who use tobacco — whether they smoke or chew — have a higher risk of the severe gum disease called periodontitis, and tooth loss. Tobacco users are also at high risk of cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, and lips. Drink alcohol. People who drink alcohol have a higher risk of oral cancers, especially if they are heavy drinkers. Have certain diseases. Health conditions such as diabetes, anemia, Sjögren’s syndrome, cancer, hyperthyroidism, and HIV/AIDS can cause many oral health problems. People with these conditions are at higher risk for issues such as infections from yeast, fungus, or bacteria, plus tooth decay and gum disease. Take certain medications. Many medications can cause dry mouth, a condition where there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps prevents infection, gum disease, and tooth decay. Dry mouth puts you at higher risk for these problems. Some medication for allergies, high blood pressure, and depression can cause dry mouth. Some narcotic pain medications used after injury or surgery can also cause dry mouth. Are an older adult. As we age, our mouths can produce less sali Continue reading >>
Diabetic Patient Receiving Oral Sex - Hiv Risk
Hello and thank you for using the AIDS Vancouver Helpline as your source for HIV/AIDS related information. Commercial sex workers are no more likely to have HIV than any other person, rather it is the activity which increases the risk of passing HIV. Receiving oral sex carries a negligible risk for passing HIV, meaning that there has never been a confirmed report of someone acquiring HIV in this manner. Based on the information you provided, you do not require immediate HIV testing. Most people do not experience any symptoms of HIV; the symptoms associated with HIV are much more common in other illnesses and can even be as a result of stress and anxiety. For this reason, symptoms cannot be used to diagnose HIV. The only sure way to determine one’s HIV status is to get an HIV test 12 weeks after the possible exposure. That being said, we recommend all sexually active adults consider regular testing for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, for a complete record of their sexual health. This can be done annually, bi-annually, or every 3-4 months based on your preference or needs. Being diabetic and using insulin does not affect your risk of acquiring HIV. Other STIs may increase the risk of acquiring HIV, such as herpes which causes open sores around the genitals, however having diabetes would not constitute an increased risk. Please let us know if we can provide any more information. Or if you would like to call and speak to someone at the Helpline, you can do so anonymously and confidentially by calling 604-696-4666, Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm PST. In Health, Maya AIDS Vancouver Helpline Volunteer E-mail: [email protected] Phone (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm): (604) 696-4666 Web: www.aidsvancouver.org/helpline Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Sex: When Hypoglycemia Gets In The Way
A number of people over the years (here, here, here) have talked about the complexity of diabetes and sex– that is, sex with an insulin pump, and how to handle infusion sets and tubing. But that part seems pretty straightforward to me — take off the pump, do your best to ignore the infusion set. What I struggle with is this: how do you deal with the complexity of sex with hypoglycemia? That is, how do you say, “Wait, hold on, I can’t yet,” when sex comes a-callin’ but you know you’re going low? What do you do when you’re halfway through the deed, and you feel your knees get weak and your energy start to drain as your blood sugar begins to dip? What about those times you think you’ll be okay, but then things turn out more… energetic than you were expecting? Or when you finish and realize, shit, now I’m 40 and I feel it? I hate that. Hate hate hate. One of my least favorite parts about diabetes is dealing with diabetes and sex. It’s one of the surest reminders that I am not normal. And I have it easy: I’ve been married for more than eight years. My husband gets it. Sure, it’s frustrating and disappointing at times, but he understands what’s going on. He can even tell I’m low before I can usually. So what do I do? If I can tell I’m low beforehand, I try to eat a few quick carbs and delay, delay, delay without killing the mood. If I can tell I’m low during, finish as quickly as possible, and bail only as a last resort. And if I’m tanking after? Curse and correct. But what in Aphrodite’s name do you do if you’re dating? Single? How do you explain to someone who hasn’t promised in-sickness-and-in-health that, hey, sometimes I’m too sick for sex? Or, better yet, how do you explain that the act of sex itself, in all its acrobatic gl Continue reading >>
Better Sex With Diabetes
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Michael Dansinger, MD Diabetes doesn't have to feel like a third -- and unwanted -- party in bed. You can deal with things like low blood sugar, vaginal dryness, or erection problems by looking at them as hurdles you can overcome, instead of roadblocks that put a stop to sex. Planning ahead can ease some of the challenges. You may associate prep work more with house painting than with having sex, but it can make intimacy more relaxed. Also remember that taking good care of your diabetes is the No. 1 way to prevent or limit sexual issues with diabetes. These tricks and tips can also make sex easier and more fun. 10 Strategies for Better Sex Approach sex like exercise. This helps prevent dreaded blood sugar lows. "Hypoglycemic events during sex are a real buzzkill," says Kerri Morrone Sparling, the author of Balancing Diabetes: Conversations About Finding Happiness and Living Well, who blogs about her life with type 1 diabetes. "Your body just shuts down during a low, so it crushes the enjoyment." If you use insulin, check your blood sugar before sex and have a snack if it's low. For more fun, incorporate snacks into foreplay. Try strawberries or a little ice cream or chocolate. Just go with it. Planning can be helpful, but don't sweat it if sex just happens. "There's no reason not to grab the opportunity if it pops up just because you haven't followed your diabetes exercise routine," says Scott K. Johnson, a diabetes advocate who blogs about his life with type 1 diabetes. Just check your glucose level after. Use a lubricant. If you are a woman with vaginal dryness, a vaginal lubricant can make sex feel better. Ask your doctor about using one regularly, not just during sex. "Think of it like hand cream," says Janis Roszler, a diabetes educator in Continue reading >>
No Harm In Having Oral Sex With A Diabetic
That cunnilingus with a diabetic leads to rise in sugar levels is a myth. Self assumptions are fraught with risks. Oral sex with the female vagina is called cunnilingus. It’s a form of sexual variation used by couples from time to time. It’s usually used as a part of foreplay to increase sexual stimulation. It may lead to orgasm in some females. That cunnilingus with a diabetic leads to rise in sugar levels is a myth. Self assumptions are fraught with risks. Oral sex with the female vagina is called cunnilingus. It’s a form of sexual variation used by couples from time to time. It’s usually used as a part of foreplay to increase sexual stimulation. It may lead to orgasm in some females. Diabetes is not transmitted sexually; hence there is no harm in having oral sex with a diabetic. Diabetes is a disorder caused due to malfunctioning of the pancreas. This leads to abnormal sugar levels in the blood. It may have genetic basis. Well controlled diabetes has no action on the sex life. Poorly controlled sugars can cause problems with sex desire and erection. It may also result in infections. Continue reading >>
Sex & Diabetes: What You Must Know
Nobody talks about this. Sure, we all talk about sex with our friends and our partners. We watch steamy, romantic scenes in the movies, and laugh at jokes in sitcoms about sex. But nobody talks about how diabetes can impact your love life and what to do about it. Complications In a nutshell, high blood sugars, a high A1C, and other diabetes complications like kidney disease can cause troublesome but usually treatable issues with your sexual performance. The Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation offers an in-depth downloadable document for both men and women to learn about their own sexual health around diabetes. For men, the common complication is “erectile dysfunction,” meaning the inability to get or maintain an erection. In diabetes, it’s often result of poor blood circulation and nerve damage, from long-term high blood sugars. For women, the common complications include the inability to orgasm, lack of natural lubrication, and lowered sex drive as the result of long-term high blood sugars, which impact blood circulation and cause nerve damage. High blood sugars can also lead to chronic yeast infections until blood sugar levels improve. Other psychological issues associated with diabetes can include depression (also partly a result of high blood sugars) and lowered self-esteem. Treatment Options for Diabetes Sexual Issues While there are medication treatments available for both men and woman, the best treatment is to aim for better blood sugar control by working with your health care team, adjusting your medications, increasing your activity, and making gradual changes to your diet. For men: there are several treatments for men struggling with erectile dysfunction. The simplest, and most common, is an oral medication like Viagra or Cialis, and can be prescrib Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Intimacy: The Guide To Reclaiming Your Love Life
Diabetes can bring a range of sexual side effects that threaten a couples' sex life, and therefore the foundation of their relationship. In this article, you'll learn how and why your diabetes could affect your intimate life. You'll also learn about treatment options, some tips for communicating with your partner around this topic, and some key questions you might want to ask your doctor. Catch diabetes-related sexual dysfunction early, and you'll likely be able to prevent long-term damage and return to a healthy sex life with your partner. What Sexual Side Effects Can Diabetes Cause? Diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels in multiple areas of the body. In turn, damage to area near the genitals can lead to impairment of normal sexual response. The effects are usually different for men and women, and there's quite a range: For Men: For men, diabetes-related sexual dysfunction tends to take the form of impotence or erections that are less firm than they used to be and don't last as long. This is due to diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage. Unlike women, men with diabetes tend to retain their interest in sex and their ability to achieve orgasm. Within 10 years of diabetes diagnosis, 50 percent of men will have problems with erectile dysfunction, and it has been shown that men with diabetes are three times more likely to have ED than are those without the disease. In some cases, men may have difficulty ejaculating. Some men also experience retrograde ejaculation as a result of diabetes, which means that some or all semen is released into the bladder rather than being allowed to exit the body through the urethra. The semen mixes with urine and exits the body during urination. Retrograde ejaculation happens when the sphincter of the bladder does not function as it shoul Continue reading >>
What Is Oral Sex?
Oral sex is when you stimulate your partner's genitals with your mouth, lips or tongue. This could involve sucking or licking their penis (also called fellatio), vagina, vulva or clitoris (cunnilingus), or anus (anilingus). Is it common to have oral sex? Many people have oral sex before or instead of sexual intercourse. If you're going to have oral sex with your partner, try different techniques until you find out what you both enjoy. Get more tips on how to have a healthy sex life. Is oral sex safe? There's no risk of getting pregnant through oral sex. But you can catch or pass on some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by having oral sex. The most common STIs that can be passed on through oral sex include: Other STIs that are passed on less commonly through oral sex include: The risk is generally higher if you give rather than receive oral sex. This is because you're more likely to be exposed to genital fluids. The risk is also higher if you have cuts, sores or ulcers in your mouth. Avoid brushing your teeth or using dental floss shortly before giving oral sex as this could cause your gums to bleed. If you want to freshen your mouth first, you could try mouthwash or mints. If you think you may have an STI, see your GP or go to your nearest sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. How can I make oral sex safer? For oral sex on a man, use a condom to reduce your risk of getting an STI. Try a flavoured one if you don't like the taste of regular condoms. For oral sex on a woman, or when performing anilingus, use a dam. This is a small, thin square of latex or plastic that acts as a barrier between the vagina or anus and the mouth, preventing the spread of STIs. Dams are available at some sexual health clinics and online, or pharmacies may order them for y Continue reading >>
Hpv Transmission During Oral Sex A Growing Cause Of Mouth And Throat Cancer
In the last few years, actress Angelina Jolie went public with her double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer. Governor Chris Christie told us his reasons for gastric bypass surgery. And actor Michael Douglas is shining the spotlight on the human papilloma virus (HPV)—the number one cause of mouth and throat cancer. In an interview published in The Guardian newspaper in London, Douglas mentioned that his own throat cancer could have been brought on by oral sex, a common way to become infected with HPV. There are about 200 different strains of HPV. Some cause common warts when they invade the skin. Others are the cause of sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV transmitted by sexual contact often doesn’t become active enough to cause symptoms. When it does become active, it tends to invade mucous membranes, such as those covering the lining of the vagina, cervix, anus, mouth, tongue, and throat. An HPV infection can cause warts in and around these tissues. Most people sexually exposed to HPV never develop symptoms or health problems, and most HPV infections go away by themselves within two years. But the infection can persist and cause long-term problems. These include cervical cancer in women, penis cancer in men, and in both sexes some cancers of the anus and oropharyngeal cancer (cancer in the back of throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils). In the past, oropharyngeal cancers were mostly linked to smoking or alcohol abuse. Today, oropharyngeal cancers related to smoking and alcohol are on the decline while those caused by HPV are rising dramatically. Some experts predict that HPV-caused mouth and throat cancers will become more common than cervical cancer by 2020. Prevent Continue reading >>
Diabetes, Men, And Sex
Sexual dysfunction. You've seen the ads on television, you've heard the jokes, and, if you're like most men, you've tried your best to block it from your mind. But if you have diabetes, this is one touchy subject you shouldn't ignore. A full 75 percent of diabetic men have some trouble achieving or maintaining an erection long enough to have intercourse. But diabetes doesn't have to be a deathblow to your sex life. You can protect your sexual functioning by keeping your diabetes under control. And if the condition has already started to derail your physical relationships, your doctor can help you get back on track. How does diabetes cause sexual dysfunction? Erections take teamwork from several parts of the body: Your brain makes you aroused, your nerves sense pleasurable feelings, and your arteries carry a flood of blood to the penis. Unfortunately, poorly controlled diabetes can ruin that teamwork. Blood sugar that stays too high for too long can both deaden your nerves and damage the arteries that feed your penis. You can still get aroused, but you'll have trouble turning those feelings into action. The breakdown doesn't happen overnight. Most men have diabetes for many years before they notice a problem with erections. Diabetic men rarely have any erectile dysfunction before they reach 30. The key is controlling your diabetes. But when it comes to blood sugar, how high is too high? There's a national movement to describe sugar levels in terms of A1C (also known as glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1c)), a lab test that reports average blood glucose over a period of two to three months. If your A1C is below 7 percent, your blood sugar is under control. But as A1C gets higher than 7 percent your long-term risk of damage to nerves and arteries increases, and that can also Continue reading >>
Intercourse Alternatives 101
Q: We have been happily married for 58 years. We are Christians and active in our church. We both have college degrees. Over the years we have enjoyed our intimacy, but not nearly as often as years ago. My husband has sugar diabetes and is impotent. We miss not being able to have intercourse. Oral sex is not appealing. I know there are prescriptions available, but I don’t want something to harm his health. I’d appreciate any new thoughts. A: I fervently hope researchers find a cure for diabetes — or at least a way to blunt its disabling consequences. Not the least of these is its erosion of erectile quality. The disease may also lower the ability of both men and women to be orgasmic. A new you within reach — Visit AARP Life Reimagined » So with a diabetes cure still in the future, we have to think of ways to work around the disease. A good start is to consult a doctor or therapist of sexual medicine. He or she can advise you what your best options are. And let me assure you that there are more of those than you might think. There is the possibility of a pump, for example. Manually pumped up and down, it allows for arousal and orgasm (but not ejaculation). And there are also painless (really!) shots of alprostadil into the shaft of the penis that create the hydraulics of erection. A number of additional possibilities exist. An experienced medical professional can explain the workings of each one. If, however, a medical remedy is not feasible, many wonderful sexual aids can help you out. Among them is the famous “rabbit.” Both a dildo and a clitoral vibrator, it is very exciting for women, enabling a partner to feel good about how aroused he is making his spouse (or spousal equivalent). And even if a man cannot get an erection, his nerve endings can provide e Continue reading >>
Oral Sex
How common is oral sex? Oral sex used to be something that was only practised by a minority of couples. But in Britain and Europe, it seems likely that the majority of sexually-active people do it at times. Indeed, in the UK the National Survey on Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles has recently reported that the percentages of people who say that they have gone in for oral sex during the last year are as follows: 71 per cent of 16 to 24 year olds 80 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds 78 percent of 35 to 44 year olds 67 per cent of 45 to 54 year olds 52 per cent of males and 35 per cent of females aged 55 to 64 35 per cent of females aged 55 to 64 30 per cent of males aged 65-plus 19 per cent of females aged 65-plus. In the USA, broadly similar figures have been reported by the authoritative Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral sex has many advantages, but one serious concern about it has recently emerged – the risk of throat cancer, caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Also, I recently attended a conference where it became clear that chlamydia infection is now a possible hazard of oral sex. Advantages of oral sex But what are the advantages of oral love play? Well, although it's not everyone's cup of tea, for a lot of people oral sex is fun. It can help 'spice up' a relationship. Oral stimulation given to a woman is often an excellent way of getting her aroused. Also, if it's practised by a reasonably expert partner, it's an extremely effective method of giving her an orgasm. Many women who have had difficulty in climaxing find that oral sex helps them to 'come'. Similarly, oral sex given to a man is something that many males find exciting. Also, where an older man is having difficulties with potency, oral 'suction' by his partner can help with inducing a good e Continue reading >>
Sex, Urinary, And Bladder Problems Of Diabetes
What sexual problems can occur in men with diabetes? Erectile Dysfunction Erectile dysfunction is a consistent inability to have an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. The condition includes the total inability to have an erection and the inability to sustain an erection. Estimates of the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes vary widely, ranging from 20 to 75 percent. Men who have diabetes are two to three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who do not have diabetes. Among men with erectile dysfunction, those with diabetes may experience the problem as much as 10 to 15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Research suggests that erectile dysfunction may be an early marker of diabetes, particularly in men ages 45 and younger. In addition to diabetes, other major causes of erectile dysfunction include high blood pressure, kidney disease, alcohol abuse, and blood vessel disease. Erectile dysfunction may also occur because of the side effects of medications, psychological factors, smoking, and hormonal deficiencies. Men who experience erectile dysfunction should consider talking with a health care provider. The health care provider may ask about the patient's medical history, the type and frequency of sexual problems, medications, smoking and drinking habits, and other health conditions. A physical exam and laboratory tests may help pinpoint causes of sexual problems. The health care provider will check blood glucose control and hormone levels and may ask the patient to do a test at home that checks for erections that occur during sleep. The health care provider may also ask whether the patient is depressed or has recently experienced upsetting changes in his life. Treatments for erectile dysfunction caused by nerve damage, Continue reading >>
