In the second in our series focusing on sexuality and Parkinson’s, nurse consultant Orna Moore and sex therapist Gila Bronner offer their insights on seeking professional help – and explore the range of treatments available
The physical and emotional changes in Parkinson’s disease may have a dramatic effect on the sex lives of patients and their partners. The motor and non-motor symptoms of the condition, as well as treatments and medications, can lead to problems with desire, arousal, orgasm and sexual satisfaction, reduced self-esteem and potentially to marital tension.
People with Parkinson’s who are experiencing problems can call on doctors and other health professionals for proactive intervention or referral for specialist treatment. But how should people go about getting help?
It’s good to talk
Many people feel embarrassed and anxious when they think of consulting a doctor with their sexual problems. Some even feel that it is inappropriate to raise such issues in a medical setting. Others may think that they might be perceived as too old, or too sick for sex. Quite often, people who live with a chronic or progressive condition, such as Parkinson’s, are not aware that their sexual dysfunction is related to the medical condition.
Consequently, they never think that they could discuss their intimate problems with the medical team. Even if couples are not used to talking about these issues, most appreciate an opportunity to figure out what is happening to their sexuality, and how they can cope with the changes imposed by the disease. A trusted professional can be ideal for this task.
A choice of solutions
Today, sexual medicine offers a variety of effective treatments for many sexual problems. Sex therapy offers a variety of psychological-behavioural-sexological and couple interventions. The efficacy of these interventions combined with medical therapies can help improve the sexual lives of people who live with Parkinson’s.
Many problems that seem big may have simple solutions, so if you are a man you can talk about your erectile dysfunction with a urologist, and if you are women you can talk about desire changes, pain and lubrication with a gynaecologist. They can advise about lubrication, position changes, or prescribe medications.
Health professionals should encourage people to discuss and explore changes in sexuality and intimacy, which can be a good starting point for successful therapeutic intervention. They should be able to permit people to express and discuss their fears and concerns and as part of the intervention to offer practical strategies to cope with those difficulties.
A loving relationship includes encouragement of intimacy, sensuality, companionship, and friendship, as well as continued knowledge and understanding about the effects that one’s health conditions, medications, and treatment have on sexuality and functioning.
