Sex and Arthritis.

Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005

Plan

Can planning help a person with arthritis enjoy sex with his or her partner?

Pay no attention to the myth that good sex has to be spontaneous and unplanned.

You will find that planning is a major help in enjoying sex when pain and fatigue have been constant companions. Here are some general suggestions to think of in your planning:

• Plan for sex at a time of day when you generally feel best.
• Time your dose of pain-relief medication so that its effect will occur during sexual relations.
• Pace your activities during the day to help avoid extreme fatigue.
• Practice prescribed range-of-motion exercises to relax your joints.
• Use a vibrator or lubricant before sex to help produce arousal and to facilitate insertion.
• Take a warm bath or shower before sex to relax and soothe your joints and muscles. Showering ahead of time may also help women who report an increased body odor during a flare-up of the disease.
• Use your imagination: shower or bathe with your partner. Make it a part of the romance. Gently apply lotion to one another afterwards, to heighten sexual arousal. You can enjoy pleasant sensations, warmth and affection even if all the pain is not relieved. Gentle touching may feel especially good to one whose body is often a source of pain.

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