How Endometriosis Can Impact Your Sex Life
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women in their reproductive years. It is when the tissue to the uterus lining grows outside the uterine cavity—a range of symptoms from chronic pelvic pain, nausea, leg pain, infertility, and more. One common symptom is painful sex, which is sometimes overlooked, in medical terms, called dyspareunia.
Endometriosis can have a significant impact on women's sexual health, not only in a physical way but emotionally. This can lead to decreased libido and sexual satisfaction, which can put a significant strain on intimacy in relationships.
This article is for you, whether you're living with endometriosis or a partner to someone who is. Providing education and knowledge around sexual health and endometriosis is a way to empower you with knowledge to better help understand endometriosis and the affect it can have on relationships.
What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
A few common symptoms of endometriosis are painful periods and pelvic pain. Each person can have a wide variety of symptoms, and pain isn't always a symptom, as some only experience. Being correctly diagnosed by your doctor as endometriosis can often go underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed so it is important to find an endometriosis specialist. Infertility is another common symptom of endometriosis, causing an individual stress, anxiety and depression mental health conditions.
The Link Between Endometriosis and Painful Sex
One of the most common symptoms of endometriosis is painful sex, also known as dyspareunia. This pain can occur during or after sexual intercourse, depending on the location of the endometrial-like tissue.
What does the pain feel like? Pain is often described as sharp, stinging, or an electric spasms in the pelvic area or abdomen. Discussing this with your medical provider is important, as pain can be a sign of endometriosis or other mental health conditions.
Here are some points to understand about endometriosis and painful sex:
Endometriosis-related pain can happen at any time of the month. Painful periods is one time of the month but endometriosis can be felt at any time during the cycle.
Pain medication is sometimes used prior to sex to help with discomfort.
Other sexual activities can substitute when someone doesn’t want to have intercourse.
Pelvic floor physical therapy may help alleviate pain in the pelvic area.
Surgical options, such as an excison laparoscopy, is known as the gold-standard to help reduce pain.
Therapy with your partner or individual therapy can offer help with difficult emotions such as depression or anxiety that occur because of painful sex.
The Physical and Emotional Toll on Sexual Health
Endometriosis can be physically and emotionally exhausting for someone. Since the mind and body are connected, physical discomfort and pain during sex can then lead to overall sexual dissatisfaction and lower libido. If someone is hurting during what should be a connecting or intimate time, how could they feel positive about sex? It is a difficult situation and can be challenging for couples when one of them has trouble with painful sex. If you have a partner with endometriosis and are struggling with this area in your relationship, seeking therapy can be a way to communicate feelings and also find tools and techniques to overcome some of these issues.
Another factor is some of the medications, like birth control or other hormonal treatments, can also affect sex drive and mood. Some common side effects of medications are mood swings, lower sex drive, and weight gain.
Many women experience negative affects on their mental health because of endometriosis. Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are common.
Endometriosis can also have an impact on relationships and self-esteem. Partners of those with endometriosis may also experience emotional stress and a feeling of not knowing how to help, and counseling can help in these areas.
Navigating Intimacy Issues with Endometriosis
The first step in navigating complex topics around sex and intimacy is communication. Communication about these areas isn't always easy, and that is where counseling comes into play. Being open and honest with your partner is the first step in having a healthy sex life and one that works for you both. In therapy, finding this healthy balance and being able to talk openly and honestly.
Managing endometriosis can lead to improving quality of life, including sexual health. This may mean finding sexual activities that make someone comfortable, seeking out a medical provider to help and individual or couples counseling.
Resources and Finding an Endometriosis Specialist Near You
There are many resources for endometriosis, below are a few of our favorites to check-out.
Finding a physical therapist or endometriosis surgeon near you:
• ICareBetter- A website that sorts doctors by location, where you can find physical therapists and surgeons.
• Nancy’s Nook- Finding a specialist in your area using this resource.
• Endometriosis.org- Learning about finding a specialist and resources to guide you.
Education and Additional resources:
• The Endometriosis Association - Books, resources and education on endometriosis.
• Speak Endo- Learning about what endometriosis is, resources and community.
• Endo March- Webinars, advocacy and volunteer information.
• Endo Found- Education, resources, fellowship and advocacy.
The Importance of Communication and Support
Communicating your needs when having endometriosis is important. If you're an advocate for your mental and physical health, talk to your partner if you're having pain or issues around sex, friends and family, and anyone in your life that you need to communicate your needs to.
Having a provider with whom you feel connected and with whom you can discuss your concerns about your treatment plan and be understood.
How to Have a Fulfilling Sex Life Despite Endometriosis
Just because you have endometriosis doesn't mean you can't have a fulfilling sex life; there are many strategies to help you manage your symptoms and make sexual experiences more positive.
Non-penetrative sexual activities can be a good alternative for those experiencing painful intercourse.
Exploring other options, such as lubricants or anything that can help with discomfort.
What works for you may not work for someone else. Finding what works for you is the first step; you might find that pelvic floor therapy works wonders for your pelvic pain, but someone else may find that mindfulness meditation and decreasing their stress work for them, or another person may find that surgery helped them the most. There isn't a way to know until you try what works best for you—ultimately, being your advocate and doing what is best for yourself and your body.
Empowerment Through Education and Advocacy
Being an advocate for yourself, others with endometriosis, or your partner is needed when battling a condition like endometriosis. There isn't a ton of awareness around the topic, and many people are led to believe that endometriosis means painful periods. Sure, that can be one aspect for some, but this is a small slice of the pie regarding how much endometriosis can affect an individual. As we discussed, it can be physically and mentally exhausting where symptoms range all over the place and pain can be one symptom while other symptoms are often overlooked.
If you or someone you love has endometriosis, staying educated and informed about it is one step closer to helping others become better informed about what it means to have it. There are many places to spread the word, from talking to your friends, family, or partner to social media, joining a support group, volunteering for endometriosis in your community, and reading and keeping up to date on treatments and ways to help those with endometriosis.
At Sagebrush Counseling, we can help with the mental effects of endometriosis; if you're struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, or anything that comes along with chronic pain and a condition that has many physical and mental symptoms, we are here to help. Schedule an individual or couples session today.
