Your Sex Life After COPD Diagnosis

Your Sex Life After COPD Diagnosis

Enjoy Sex Again!

From About.com

About.com Health’s Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD

Filed In:

  1. Lung Diseases

A COPD diagnosis doesn’t mean your sex life is over. If you have found that your sex life has decreased since your COPD diagnosis, here are a few helpful tips for rejuvenating and keeping your sex life alive:

  • Talk to your partner openly about your feelings and concerns about having sex
  • See a sex therapist or talk to your doctor about what you can do to improve your sexual relationship
  • Join a support group to get advice about sex and answers to your questions
  • Have sex at a time during the day when fatigue is at its lowest
  • Take a bath or shower together
  • Clear your airways before havign sex
  • Use your bronchodilator before having sex and keep it within arms reach
  • If you are oxygen-dependent, get additional tubing (longer tubing) to allow for placing the oxygen tank away from the bed (or even out of the room!) and out of the way
  • Do not eat a large meal or perform a strenuous activity prior to sex
  • Avoid consuming alcohol before sex
  • Cool the bedroom prior to and during sex
  • Facilitate and focus more on hugging, kissing and cuddling rather than the actual sex act itself
  • Incorporate sexual aids (only after both partners have discussed and agreed to it)
  • Strive for intimacy rather than sexual gratification
  • Begin an exercise program (approved by your doctor) to gain stamina and reduce shortness of breath
  • Try to relax and free your mind of worries about harming your COPD partner
  • Expect fewer and shorter erections, and delayed orgasms. This is a natural “side effect” of getting older!
  • Rest before, during and after sex. Let the well partner do all (or most) of the work
  • Use sexual positions that allow you to rest during sex and do not hinder your breathing

 

FREE book – “Being Close” from the National Jewish Medical Research Center can be ordered by calling 1-800-222-LUNG.

Source: Coping With COPD by Elaine Fantle Shimberg

http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/copingwithcopd/qt/copd_sex_tips.htm 

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