women w/ Sexual problemsand Type 1!?

[Cinnabon]

I just saw a report on Type 1 women and sexual problems. Please shed some light on this............

[Jan B]

I would advise all diabetic women who have low libido to make sure their doctor checks for low testosterone!! It's a common problem that often is ignored or not tested in women.

Another thought . . . I tried for about 3 years to get pregnant, and never did, so I had my tube (yes, only one) "tied" (actually burned is more like it) on my 29th birthday. About a year later, a doctor found I desperately needed thyroid supplementation. It's very possible that I never got pregnant because of my very low functioning thyroid!

[Cinnabon]

I agree for when it comes to hormonal problems. The way they expressed this report was pretty ridiculous. They simpoly pointed at being diabetic as the reason.

[Jan B]

Cinnabon,

I was commenting before I saw the report -- where is it!!?

[foxl]

I would advise all diabetic women who have low libido to make sure their doctor checks for low testosterone!! It's a common problem that often is ignored or not tested in women.

Another thought . . . I tried for about 3 years to get pregnant, and never did, so I had my tube (yes, only one) "tied" (actually burned is more like it) on my 29th birthday. About a year later, a doctor found I desperately needed thyroid supplementation. It's very possible that I never got pregnant because of my very low functioning thyroid!


Or not ... I was told to keep trying after correction of my HypoT, and I did, to no avail whatsoever. And it wasted an extra 6 months as I approached 35.

But I did also read a study that replacing T4 does not result in as much improved fertility as would be expected.

[Jan B]

OT, but the rest of the story . . . .

Sadly, I was fertile when I was 23, and diabetes wasn't controlled well. The pregnancy was unplanned even though I was married (displaced IUD), but I refused to abort. My precious little one only lived 5 1/2 months with severe heart defects.

My only sibling is my precious, adopted little brother. I'm 100% all FOR adoption . . .

I used to struggle terribly, Cinnabon, with everything being blamed on diabetes. Finally, at almost 48, I believe a lot of our issues really are tied to diabetes.

[xMenace]

From my Google Alert email (http://www.google.com/alerts)

Diabetes often affects women's sex-life | Health | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5466WC20090507)

Diabetes often affects women's sex-life
Thu May 7, 2009 6:29pm EDT Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page[-] Text [+]

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Over one third of women with type 1 diabetes have some form of sexual difficulty, according to a new study.

The findings also suggest that depression is a key factor linked to the problems with sexuality for such women. In contrast to what has been shown in men, however, complications from diabetes itself do not have a significant impact.

The study, reported in the medical journal Diabetes Care, involved 652 women with type 1 diabetes. After 10-years, the participants completed a sexual function questionnaire and underwent a physical examination, an evaluation of mood, and laboratory testing.

Thirty-five percent of the women were classified as having sexual dysfunction, Dr. Paul Enzlin, from Leuven University in Belgium, and colleagues found.

Problems reported by these women included loss of libido by 57 percent, problems with orgasm by 51 percent, reduced lubrication by 47 percent, reduced arousal by 38 percent, and pain by 21 percent.

On initial analysis, sexual dysfunction was linked to older age, not being married, being postmenopausal, having circulatory problems, and depression. After taking into account various other conditions that could affect these associations, only depression and marital status were significantly related to sexual dysfunction.

"Similar to the annual evaluation of diabetes complications," Enzlin's team concludes, "women with type 1 diabetes should also be regularly queried about the presence of depressive symptoms, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction."

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, May 2009.

[foxl]

OT, but the rest of the story . . . .

Sadly, I was fertile when I was 23, and diabetes wasn't controlled well. The pregnancy was unplanned even though I was married (displaced IUD), but I refused to abort. My precious little one only lived 5 1/2 months with severe heart defects.

My only sibling is my precious, adopted little brother. I'm 100% all FOR adoption . . .

I used to struggle terribly, Cinnabon, with everything being blamed on diabetes. Finally, at almost 48, I believe a lot of our issues really are tied to diabetes.

Jan my heart goes out to you. There is nothing sadder than losing a child.

Adoption ethics are so very complex though ... witness the changes in various countries' program changes, just in the last year. Many of my friends are simply giving up now.

[Jan B]

One last thing, and maybe I'll go away!

It is not easy at all to adopt, if you have a chronic disease. A doctor I still know today (my 90 yr old grandma's doc) said chances are a lot higher that a T1 will have a healthy baby, than a T1 will be able to successfully adopt a child. What he didn't say was that adopting a child from another country might be an excellent option.

Kudos to you Linda.

[Jan B]

Another great point John -- depression. Ok, now I'm really leaving.

[foxl]

One last thing, and maybe I'll go away!

It is not easy at all to adopt, if you have a chronic disease. A doctor I still know today (my 90 yr old grandma's doc) said chances are a lot higher that a T1 will have a healthy baby, than a T1 will be able to successfully adopt a child. What he didn't say was that adopting a child from another country might be an excellent option.

Kudos to you Linda.

And ... I could NOT adopt from China, now, with Type 2 :( which is ridiculous. Not even if we did their Waiting Child program, which we did the first time ...

I have an Ob friend who (now) makes a point of mentioning adoption to patients struggling with fertility. Surprisignly few consider it.

[Cinnabon]

Well, the report was on my local news and it was regarding sexual problems not fertility.

[Cinnabon]

It was on my local news and it was on T1 and sexual difficulties not fertility. I do know that the fertility issue focuses on BG control

[Cinnabon]

Im curious about the "orgasm" detail that was added in the post as 1 of the problems partner, . Is this reaching orgasm with you
Partner or simply never reaching orgasm all together?