How Lupus Impacts a Patient's Sexuality
Drug side effects can also complicate things
Antidepressants can actually reduce someone’s libido. Steroids can lead to unwanted weight gain. Other medications can cause problems such as vaginal dryness. In some cases, they can initiate yeast infection, especially if a patient does not follow instructions provided by the physician.
It is usually believed that all patients who suffer from lupus should keep away from birth control pills. Some women may be reluctant to have sex because they don’t like the birth control options available. It is important to know that this belief does not apply to all women with this condition. Jolly said that only women who have ever had blood clots need to avoid birth control pills.
Women suffering lupus are normally advised to talk to their physicians to find out whether birth control pills with low estrogen or without estrogen can be helpful to them. A patient can also get progesterone injections after every three months. If patients feel uncomfortable with injections, using an IUD can also be helpful to some patients.