People diagnosed with diabetes often have to deal with trouble in sexual function and troublesome bladder symptoms. The main reason behind the sexual dysfunction and the urologic complications in diabetic people is the damages that are caused by this disease to their nerves and blood vessels.
In men, it may cause erection or ejaculation problems. In women, it affects their sexual response and the function of vaginal lubrication. Bladder problems and urinary tract infection affects both men and women with diabetes. However, keeping your diabetes under control is the best way to prevent yourself from both urologic and sexual problems.
Sexual problems due to diabetes in men
- Erectile dysfunction
It causes problems in having an erection for sexual intercourse. Besides this, it also creates problem in sustaining an erection. However, erectile dysfunction due to nerve damage can be treated by treatments like neuropathy, oral pills, special shots or surgery.
- Retrograde Ejaculation
It is the condition when a man’s semen enters his bladder instead of leaving his body through the tip of his penis during ejaculation. It mainly occurs due to the improper function of internal muscles called as sphincters. This problem can be cured with the help of medications specially designed to strengthen the internal muscles present in the bladder.
Sexual problems due to diabetes in women
Women may experience different types of sexual problems due to diabetes like:
- Painful or uncomfortable sexual intercourse
- Vaginal dryness due to decreased vaginal lubrication
- Decrease in sexual desire
- Absence of sexual response
There are prescription drugs or over-the-counter lubricants available for treating vaginal dryness. Moreover, exercises for strengthening the pelvic muscles and psychological counseling can also help in getting over the rest of the aforementioned symptoms.
Urological problems due to diabetes
Diabetes can seriously affect the nerves, which controls all the bladder functions leading to various bladder problems in both men and women:
- Overactive bladder: This condition may result in frequent urination or incontinence urine leakage.
- Urine retention: This condition prevents the bladder to empty completely during urination and prolonged urine retention may lead to bladder or kidney infection.
- Urinary tract infection: Diabetes may also cause infection in your urinary tract which gives rise to symptoms like burning or painful sensation during urination, frequent urge for urination, reddish or cloudy urine etc.
Risk factors for developing sexual and urological dysfunctions
Diabetic people can make themselves prone to sexual or urological dysfunctions by the following factors:
- Having poor control over the blood glucose
- Having high level of cholesterol in blood
- Having high blood pressure
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
Therefore, minimizing the above mentioned risk factors can contribute greatly in preventing your body to develop sexual or urological problems and will help you to remain fit and healthy in spite of having diabetes.
