Many patients who have chronic pain say they have no interest in sex, that sexual intercourse causes too much pain, or that they feel unattractive or undesirable because of the pain. It’s important to remember that emotional intimacy is as important as food and shelter for overall health. Sexuality is a normal part of living and is an important aspect of your identity. Chronic pain often invades the pleasures of life and destroys your sexuality.

Chronic pain affects the patient emotionally and physically. The psychological problems that chronic pain causes include:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Diminished self-esteem

If the brain cannot desire sex, the body certainly will not perform. The core problem may simply be the pain, but often it is much more complex. Receiving help requires the patient to identify that they are having sexual issues.

The most common direct causes of sexual problems include too much pain and medication side effects. Adjusting pain treatments may be the only necessary intervention. It also may be necessary to become more aggressive in the overall management and intervention for the painful condition. Many medications used in pain management (as well as medications for common problems) can cause sexual problems, including narcotics, anti-inflammatories and even antidepressants. A comprehensive strategy may be necessary and working with a pain physician may be the best approach.

Emotional Issues

Chronic pain often causes emotional problems, including stress, anxiety and depression. These problems all contribute to sexual difficulties. Until the psychological issues are being addressed successfully, it is often hard to control pain and have interest in sex. If simple medication management is not controlling emotional issues, professional help with a psychologist may be extremely beneficial.

Working with your partner is also necessary, especially when it comes to expressing your needs and concerns.  Doctors cannot read your mind and if you do not tell them you are having problems, they will not be able to help you develop solutions. A comprehensive approach will often be necessary, since most problems involve a complex interaction between the emotional and physical causes. Working closely with your partner and professionals is often the solution.  Most problems can be greatly improved with a little bit of support and creativity.