Sex and Arthritis.
Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005
More informationPregnancy Having children is a personal decision for every couple. Before becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about how pregnancy
may affect your arthritis, how arthritis and your medications may
affect your pregnancy, and how to prepare to care for the new baby.Birth control If you are sexually active and do not want to have a baby, use an
effective birth control method. Birth control information is available
from your doctor and family planning clinics in your area. Effective
methods of birth control include:
- Condom ("rubber") worn by the man and contraceptive foam or jelly
used by the woman. This is a reliable method when these are used
together. They are available at drugstores without a prescription.
- Birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUD), and diaphragms,
must be prescribed by your doctor. Diaphragms are most effective when
used in combination with contraceptive foam or jelly. Discuss these
methods with your doctor, because there may be special considerations
for people who have arthritis: for example, whether to use an IUD if
you are prone to infections, or the effect of birth control pills on
your arthritis.
- Surgical sterilization--vasectomy for the man, or tubal ligation
for the woman--is completely effective. In a vasectomy, a very small
section of the tubes that deliver sperm is removed. The testicles,
penis, and hormones are not changed. In a tubal ligation, the fallopian
tubes that deliver eggs from the ovaries to the uterus are tied shut.
There are no changes in hormones or in the appearance of the genitals.
This is not the same as a hysterectomy, which is a more complete and
complicated procedure. Both vasectomy and tubal ligation can be done
through tiny incisions that heal quickly. Generally, these procedures
cannot be reversed.
- The rhythm method, douches, and K-Y Jelly are not birth control devices.
Emotional complications Your attitude about your sexual relationship is important. Some
individuals regard sex as a duty, others as a gift. The truth is
probably somewhere in between for most of us. Should emotional
complications arise between you and your partner, such as resentment,
guilt, or any other strongly negative feelings related to your physical
relationship, you might consider talking to a counselor. Also talk to
your doctor about the effects of your arthritis and its treatment on
your sexual relations. Credits Some of this material may also be available in an Arthritis Foundation
brochure. Contact the Washington/Alaska Chapter Helpline: (800)
542-0295. If dialing from outside of WA and AK, contact the National
Helpline: (800) 283-7800.
Adapted from the pamphlet originally prepared for the Arthritis
Foundation by Graciela Alarcon, MD, MPH, JoAn Boggs, MSW, Sandra L.
Curry, PhD, Stephen B. Levine, MD, and Lewis Neemme, PhD. This material
is protected by copyright. Disclaimer
This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
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