The sexual problems of diabetes
When people get older they face common health problems like bothersome bladder symptoms or changes in sexual function. People with diabetes can have an early onset and a marked intensity of these problems. The sexual and urologic complications of diabetes occur because of the damage that diabetes can cause to blood vessels and nerves. Men may have difficulty with erection or ejaculation. Women may have problems with sexual response and vaginal lubrication. Infections of the urinary tract and bladder problems are more frequent in people with diabetes. People who keep their diabetes under control can decrease the risk of developing these sexual and urological problems early, says the best sexologist in Delhi.
Diabetes and sexual problems
Both women and men who have diabetes can develop sexual problems due to damage to nerves and small blood vessels. When a person wants to raise an arm or take a step, the brain sends nerve signals to the right muscles. Nervous signals also control internal organs such as the heart and bladder, but people do not have the same kind of conscious control of these organs as they do of the arms and legs. The nerves that control the internal organs are called autonomic nerves and tell the body to digest the food and circulate the blood without the person having to think about it. The body's response to sexual stimuli is also involuntary, it is governed by autonomic nerve signals that increase blood flow to the genitals and cause the smooth muscle tissue to relax. The damage of these autonomic nerves can alter normal function. The reduction in blood flow due to damage to the blood vessels also contributes to sexual dysfunction, says sexologist in Delhi.
What types of sexual problems can occur in men with diabetes?
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is the constant inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough to have a sexual relationship. This condition includes the total inability to achieve an erection and the inability to maintain it.
In men with diabetes, the prevalence rates of erectile dysfunction fluctuate widely, from 20 to 75 percent. Top sexologist in Delhi warns that men with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction than those without diabetes. Men with diabetes can suffer from erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Sex specialist in Delhi suggests that erectile dysfunction may be an early sign of diabetes, especially in men 45 and younger.
Other major causes of erectile dysfunction, in addition to diabetes, include high blood pressure, kidney disease, abuse of alcohol and blood vessel diseases. Erectile dysfunction can also occur due to the side effects of some medications, psychological factors, smoking, and hormonal deficiencies, says sexologist doctor in Delhi.
Men who have erectile dysfunction should consider talking to their sex doctor in Delhi. The best sex doctor in Delhi can ask questions about the patient's medical history, the type, and frequency of the sexual problem, medications, smoking and alcohol consumption, and other health conditions. A physical examination and laboratory tests can help determine the causes of sexual problems. The best sexologist in Delhi will review the control of blood glucose and hormone levels and may ask the patient to have a test at home to check for erections while the person is sleeping. The doctor can also ask the patient if he or she is depressed or has had difficult changes in their life recently.
Erectile dysfunction treatment in Delhi caused by nerve damage, also known as neuropathy, are very varied and include oral medications, the vacuum pump, granules placed in the urethra, injections applied directly inside the penis, and including surgery. All these sex treatment in Delhi has advantages and disadvantages. Psychological therapy may be necessary to reduce anxiety or treat other problems. Surgery to implant a device that helps with erection or to repair arteries is the treatment of last resort when everything else has failed.
Retrograde ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation is a male disorder in which part or all of the semen flows into the bladder instead of exiting the tip of the penis during ejaculation. Retrograde ejaculation happens when the internal muscles, called sphincters, do not work properly. The sphincter automatically opens and closes a duct in the body. In retrograde ejaculation, the semen enters the bladder, mixes with the urine and leaves the body through urination, without affecting the bladder. A man who has retrograde ejaculation may notice that little semen flows during ejaculation or he may become aware of the disorder if fertility problems occur.
The analysis of a urine sample after ejaculation will confirm the presence of semen.
Inadequate control of blood glucose and consequent damage to the nerves can cause retrograde ejaculation. Other causes include prostate surgery and some medications.
Medicines that strengthen the muscle tone of the bladder sphincter can help with retrograde ejaculation caused by diabetes or surgery. A sexologist in Delhi specializing in treatments for infertility can help with techniques to stimulate fertility, such as collecting sperm from the urine for later use during artificial insemination.
What types of sexual problems can occur in women with diabetes?
Many women with diabetes suffer from sexual problems. Although research on sexual problems in women with diabetes is limited, one study found that 27 percent of women with type 1 diabetes have sexual dysfunction. Another study revealed that 18 percent of women with type 1 diabetes and 42 percent of women with type 2 diabetes suffer from sexual dysfunction.
Sexual problems can include
decreased vaginal lubrication, which causes vaginal dryness
painful or uncomfortable sexual intercourse
decreased or absent sexual desire
diminished or absent sexual response
Diminished or absent sexual response may include the inability to achieve or maintain arousal, reduced sensation in the genital area or total absence of sensitivity and constant or sporadic inability to achieve orgasm.
The causes of sexual problems in women with diabetes include damage to the nerves, decreased blood flow to the genital and vaginal tissues, and hormonal changes. Other possible causes include some medications, abuse of alcohol, smoking, psychological problems such as anxiety or depression, gynecological infections, other diseases and conditions related to pregnancy or menopause.
Women who suffer from sexual problems or who notice changes in sexual response should consider talking with their health care provider. The health care provider will ask questions about the patient's medical history, any gynecological condition or infection, the type, and frequency of sexual problems, medications, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other health problems. The best sexologist in Noida may ask if the patient is pregnant or has reached menopause and if she is depressed or has had difficult changes in her life recently. A physical examination and laboratory tests may also help identify the cause of sexual problems. The sexologist in Noida will also talk with the patient about blood glucose control.
Over-the-counter or prescription vaginal lubricants may be helpful for women who suffer from vaginal dryness. Techniques to treat diminished sexual response include changes in position and stimulation during intercourse. Psychological therapy could also be useful. Kegel exercises to help strengthen the pelvic muscles may improve the sexual response. Studies on drug treatments are currently underway.