When the topic of fibroids is open for discussion, if they are discussed, fertility and anemia are the main topics of choice, but so much more should be considered. Something to consider, is how fibroids interfere with women and intimacy. Intimacy is most times thought of as “ just sex” but intimacy is so much more. Intimacy is or can be closeness, affection, familiarity, lovemaking or even a private cozy environment. What can interfere with intimacy more than bleeding in between cycles, bloody sheets, fatigue, decreased libido, and/or pain during sexual intercourse?
Imagine planning a wonderful evening with the person that you love, you have had dinner and drinks, danced to the various sounds of music and have the perfect lingerie in mind. With the perfect evening planned, you go the restroom and wipe and you see blood, but your period isn’t due for another 15 days! Not only do you have breakthrough bleeding, but horrible pelvic pain as well and your significant other thinks that something is wrong with them, you no longer feel wanted and the night you planned is ruined. Or you have managed to make it through the evening as planned and are prepared to make to love to your significant other and you’re in the act and you start bleeding, blood is in the bed, on the condom and everywhere. What a way to end the night!
Envision you in your bed for the night alone or snuggled up to someone and you have checked your pad before retiring for the evening. You are awakened by feeling wet and moist, and not because you were sexually stimulated or from a nights sweat but because of a “ gush” of blood that occurred during the night. You jump up to find that you have bleed through your overnight pad, your pajamas, sheets, and all the way down to the mattress. So in addition to embarrassment, you have to change clothes and sheets and still manage to rest before you have to work for the next day. Or better yet you have a girls night out and you think you are prepared, you have on a super tampon and an overnight pad and 2 hours into drinks and dinner a large “gush” occurs and you’re afraid to stand because you know that you will be sitting in a pool of blood or you run to the bathroom terrified that you soiled you clothing.
Anemia is one of the signs and symptoms of fibroids secondary to heavy bleeding, large clots, and breakthrough bleeding that occur every month. Anemia can cause worsening fatigue and increase difficulty with the actual act of sex. With fibroids the uterus is enlarged and causes pressure on the pelvis, which causes pain especially in missionary position. If fibroids are positioned lower in the cervix or protrude in the entrance of the uterus extending into the cervix, penetration is extremely difficulty and painful. Positions that may be better for sexual intercourse with large fibroids would be doggy style or side lying. In addition to pelvic pain, fibroids can cause increased urinary frequency, urinary pressure and incontinence that would cause women, like you and me to AVOID sex.
Hormonal imbalance, a topic common to this blog has been known to be the cause of fibroids, but did you know that it also decreases your libido? Libido is what drives your desires to have sex and the imbalance of estrogen and progression can cause lack of desire to be satisfied sexually. This imbalance interferes with a woman’s desire for sexual intimacy and leads to not feeling very sexual. Hormonal imbalance= decreased libido=lack of sexual desire=lack of sexual relationship= unfulfilling relationship.
Intimacy and fibroids can dampen self -esteem, interfere with relationships, and even interfere with overall well-being. Don’t let fibroids affect your intimacy and lets discus how not to. …Discuss fibroids with your partner (because fibroids affect men too), determine other ways to be intimate i.e massages, intimate dinners, taking baths or showers together, dancing together amongst other things, take iron supplements so that fatigue won’t interfere with sex and last but not least if your cycle is on, change more frequently and wear dark colors until intervention can be done to decrease your bleeding. Intimacy is important for your well being, so DON’T let FIBROIDS affect yours.
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