Lack of sex drive (Anyone else? Med Related?)

Yes I'm in the same situation exactly.  I'm trying some herbal drugs (testo-jack for males) which seems to help a little bit, but not exactly sure why my labido is almost nonexistant at times.  It's the pain sometimes, cramping others, and probably meds too.  You're not alone, that's for sure.

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I have this problem too. Of course its worse when i have symptoms but my sex drive is nothing like it use to be. Now i make a conscience effort when i am feeling ok to make the first move on my husband. My husband and i talk very openly about postitions that aren't too stressful on my body and other things we can do that don't put as much pressure on my body...wink wink....

There were a few MONTHS when my husband had to be very patient becuase i was just too sick to do anything. He was great. I never felt as though i was any less of a wife.

It is hard. I am constantly aware of my husbands needs. I don't want to sound like i am doing things I don't want to do...i'm not... but i realize that i don't think about sex at all so i try to plan ahead or take advantage of those times when I am feeling better.

Really talking about it with my husband is the best thing I did. It releived a lot of tesion.

Good luck!

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Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, 15 mg pred. until immuran kicks in...
75mg Imuran starting 8/23/07---bumped to 100mg 10/8/07
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

I love Grooviegirl very much! She is an inspiration as all of you are! I appreciate all the feedback that you have given her! We are a couple that needs each other in life and obviously want to get as close to normal as possible. In other words, we just want to have sex with each other at times but UC has decided to intervene. We shall overcome and thanks again!

Saw your post. I posted this below under topic--Sex, what's that?:

Posted 9/22/2007 12:58 PM (GMT -6)
Yeah, just don't feel like it anymore--too much fatigue, too tired, face it, diarrhea is not sexy--lol. I am totally o.k. w/not feeling sexual right now, but I'm concerned b/c I have a long term partner, who is very sympathetic to my situation, but still, I feel bad. This is NOT a medication thing, or a libido thing, it's a dealing with chronic illness thing. Can you relate? Oh, yeah, we are very affectionate, kissy, kissy, hugs, etc., And, yes, we've talked about it, but still my partner's very healthy, fit and "normal" physically--you know what I mean.

Not many responses. Mostly people telling me I will get back my sex drive when I'm in remission; not sure people got what I was trying to say, I'm coming from a chronic illness thing. I've had UC over 10 years (IBS longer) and remission? Yah, I have periods of less activity, but pretty much every day is a challenge with one thing or another. I also don't always want to be the "sick" partner, I don't think it's fair and I don't want our relationship to revolve around my illnesses--so I do my best to keep my spirits up, or not talk/focus on it all the time and that in itself is work too.

I would love to have a support group in my community too (I've looked, nothing), the internet is great and all, but their's nothing like live feedback, seeing empathy in another person's eyes/face/body language.

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Dx Ulcerative Colitis 1999; IBS; CP: Asacol x3 x3/day, Rowasa, Proctofoam, Prilosec, Bentyl, Prozac, Endocet (as needed), multi vit, probiotic, fish oil caps x2/day, calcium 1200 mg./day, Prednisone (off/on, unfortunately).

Prednisone turns me into a sexual beast.

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Male 36yrs old. Indeterminate Colitis 6 yrs.


Lialda 2 a day

Protonix
multi vitamin

I know both the disease and the meds affect my hubby. He said he asked his doc about having zero libido at times, and the doc said it's probably due to the Imuran. We've had a lot of ups and downs with this disease, especially since Feb of this year, since he hasn't been able to stay in remission without the prednisone. You enjoy the good times, and you hang tough together through the rough times.

This board really helps - it's nice to be able to talk about this stuff with others, and read that we're not the only ones going through all the stuff UC throws at ya!

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Husband diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003(?)
Hospitalized 4 times
Asacol, Imuran, probiotics, fish oil, Vit D, Librax, Zoloft, Metamucil
Started Digestive Advantage Colitis formula 7/16 - hoping for some relief!
(Still working on listing all his meds and doses of each!)

Odd...Prednisone seemed to have an opposite effect on me.

I recently had a tumor removed from my pituitary gland...it was a hormone producing tumor and my testosterone levels were extremely low, and prolactin very high - i was a dude ready to lactate!!
Anyway - my sex drive was non-existent. Soon after the surgery (thats a story in itself) and some recovery time, my sex drive was VERY strong....up until this flare - now that I am on prednisone, it has dropped...not as bad as with the tumor - but it has definitely dropped.

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33 yr old male. UC for 13 years. Recent Endonasal surgery to remove non-cancerous hormone producing tumor on pituitary gland.

At the beginning of our relationship I was in a remission period. I was vibrant, out going, confident and sexual...now I don't even think about it most of the time. I know it's been very rough on him because he doesn't understand the difference between when we met and now. This is my first major flare since we've been together and I know he's in the learning process of UC. I try to explain to him it's not him...nor is it that I'm less attracted to him from when we first met....it's not those things at all!

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~Aubrey

yeah, crampy diarreah 10-20 times a day, just does not get me all hot and bothered for my husband. He is very understanding and I can't wait to start feeling better.....darn UC is ruining my mojo!

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Beth, 32

Hi,

Hate to tell you, but it might be the birth control pills. I'm on sulfasalazine, and, while I've never been able to get my doctor (or my gyno) to put this together, I think there's something about the vitamin deficiencies of UC, plus medication, plus the vitamin deficiencies/horminal weirdness that birth control pills can cause, that make for a bad, libido-killing combination (sorry to be so general about this, but I don't want to give wrong medical info -- you can google about the Pill and low sex drive and will find a host of resources). I went off the Pill about 10 months ago, and it's helped the situation a lot.