If we’re talking frankly, lovemaking is a big part of all of our lives and maybe even a bigger part for some, so when we suffer from a health problem that leads to our inability to have it or even to worry about it, it’s natural that we would feel worse. This may exacerbate our body's response to the problem we are experiencing or even cause other physical and mental problems, as well as harm our relationship. If you have experienced an injury or illness that has prevented you from making love properly, you should read the following 7 sections. You might be surprised to find that in many cases there is no reason to fear a return to normal activity and that for any problem that arises there is indeed a solution.
After a heart attack, we may be troubled by the thought that we will have chest pains during intercourse or that we won’t have enough energy to do the deed, but the biggest concern is that we might have another heart attack. The truth, however, is that the risk of a second heart attack while making love is quite low, according to statistics, intercourse only causes 1 in 100 people to experience another heart attack. In any situation where you are concerned about making love, you should consult your doctor about your risk level, and he or she can give you instructions or help you eliminate your fears.
Despite all that has been said about the low risk of having another heart attack, it is recommended that you return to your routine gradually. You can start with a few simple love making activities, such as kissing and intimate touching, and gradually moving towards the act itself based on how you feel. Talk to your partner about the concerns so they know the source of your anxiety and avoid making love 1-3 hours after a meal. Also, be aware that anxiety about the problem you suffered may cause you to suffer from impotence. It Is also important to remember that what caused your heart attack, namely arterial blockages, may also affect the flow of blood towards the penis. If while making love you experience chest pain, it is recommended that you stop immediately and consult your doctor, the same is advised in the case of erectile dysfunction, because the medications given to you may be the cause of this.
Those of us who suffer from joint inflammation have many reasons to avoid making love. The disease causes pain and stiffness of the joints, which limits our freedom of movement and consequently the pleasure we experience. However, arthritis should not prevent you from having pleasurable lovemaking, you might just need to change your bedroom habits.
Because the main problem with arthritis is a limited range of motion, various positions you used to use and like may be difficult to get into and enjoy. You need to find new positions that are easier and make use of pillows to relieve the pain in various places where pressure is applied. In addition, this is a great opportunity to experiment with new ways of making love without too much body strain, for example by using your hands. If your arthritis is actually in the wrist, you can also start using toys which will introduce a new, different and exciting dimension to your relationship.
You might be surprised to find that most patients report a dramatic improvement in their love lives after hip replacement surgery. In a study conducted between 2009-2011, nearly half of the respondents reported an increase in their libido and frequency of intercourse, more than half reported improvement in their physical image and almost all reported that their function improved. With that said, the question is not whether it’s possible to make love after hip replacement, but when to start.
Most patients report that they started making love 3-4 weeks after surgery, but there is no recommendation to wait such a period of time. It is important that you listen to your body and address the pain and limitations you experience, or in the words of Dr. Nima Mehran, physiotherapist and surgeon from Los Angeles, "If the patient still needs help walking, they probably aren’t ready to make love yet." If you do not need explicit permission from your doctor and can resume activity, you should avoid positions that apply pressure to your thigh at least during the first month, and let your partner do most of the work.
Spinal injuries cause each person to react differently to lovemaking, so first understand what your main problem or fear is. After a spinal injury, your physical appearance or ability to perform various actions changes, and this can cause frustration, anger and even disappointment, all of which may negatively affect your relations. In some cases, there is also a negative effect on the stimulation experienced by patients, and as a result their desire to make love dissipates.
Most men who have had a spinal cord injury return to normal activity about a year after the injury, but until then they may experience problems in gaining and maintaining an erection. In some cases, there may be a problem of reverse ejaculation, in which the sperm enters the bladder instead of leaving the body - this is not a health hazard, but it does cause a man to become infertile. One of the things that should worry about is a condition called autonomic dysreflexia, which can endanger the patient with stroke and even death. If you experience an extreme increase in blood pressure along with a decrease in heart rate, pain in the forehead or neck, chest tightness or difficulty in breathing, stop intercourse immediately and see your doctor.
For men, there are many treatments that can help with erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra, and you should consult your doctor. For women who suffer from a lack of stimulation or vaginal dryness, Viagra can also help, or you can use a lubricant. Either way, if there is a certain risk of making love, you should consult your doctor about the injury you are suffering and the activities you can perform.
Women who go through menopause experience a decrease in the amount of estrogen secreted in their body, which causes some of them to suffer from urinary incontinence because the urethral tissues become thinner and weaker, and this is also expressed when making love because of pressure on the abdomen. When the problem repeats itself, it may cause many women to feel unclean and therefore unattractive, which greatly affects their experience.
However, urinary incontinence should not be a problem that prevents intercourse. In fact, many women who suffer from this report having as active a love life as those who don’t suffer from the problem.
To prevent urinary incontinence during intercourse, don’t drink liquids for about an hour before lovemaking, do exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, and try to be as much as possible above your partner instead of under him or kneeling on 4’s in front of him (Doggy Style). If wetting your sheets is the issue that bothers you, you can simply put a towel beneath you, and the most important thing is to talk to your partner and explain the concerns you are experiencing.
Although it is not considered an injury or a disease, it may cause activity to decline for a variety of reasons, including postnatal bleeding. In such a case, it is recommended to wait about 3 weeks until the bleeding stops, because the uterus should be given time to heal - if you don’t do so, you will risk an infection. Very few couples return to lovemaking within one month after birth, and most of them wait about 6 weeks to give the female genitalia time to recover.
You can resume complete intercourse without fear about 3 months after birth. Don’t feel bad if you do not have the urge to make love during the first few weeks or months after the baby is born, as exhaustion from sleep deprivation can suck plenty of energy from you. In addition, if you are breastfeeding it is important that you know that the prolactin hormone your body secretes also causes a decline in desire. Postpartum depression may also cause this, and in such a situation it is recommended to seek medical help.
If you’ve had a C-section, your scar may hurt and your partner will be aware of it. If you are in pain but still want to make love, try finding a position that doesn’t place the weight on - usually, girl on top. If you're just afraid that it will hurt you, try longer foreplay to help relieve stress - this is important because stress makes the abdominal muscles tighten, causing pain in the scar area in some cases. If you are concerned that your partner will reject the way your body now looks, talk to him about it - you can be sure that he will then alleviate all these fears.
Studies show that even a slight decline in thyroid activity, which is still considered normal, can cause a significant reduction in libido, as well as fatigue, weight gain, and depression. dysfunction caused by hypothyroidism gradually occurs and can be reminiscent of the aging process; In such a state, the metabolic rate dwindles, as do the reproductive organs and the secretion of special hormones.
The good news is that once you take care of your hormonal imbalance, most of the problem is solved. But until you get the right treatment, you can make sure that the drugs you are currently using do no harm to your love making and take testosterone (for men) or estrogen/ progesterone (for women) supplements. Other ways to treat the problem are reducing body weight and exercising regularly.
image source: Richard foster, Alper Iseri
