🛑 Lupus is a complex autoimmune chronic condition with symptoms and treatments that can potentially impact one’s sexual life and, consequently, quality of life.
💥 Symptoms like pain, fatigue, or joint stiffness can make physical intimacy challenging, while emotional factors such as anxiety, depression, and changes in body image can further complicate sexual well-being.
🚨In addition to lupus, overlapping conditions such as Sjögren’s disease and antiphospholipid syndrome could also be a barrier to a fulfilling sexual life, as the former can cause vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse, and the latter can increase the risk of complications that may affect overall well-being and intimacy.
💊 Furthermore, certain medications used to manage lupus and related conditions could potentially have adverse effects on sexual health (corticosteroids, for instance, can lead to weight gain, mood swings, and decreased libido).
‼️Although sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD), it remains under-recognised, under-discussed & under-treated in routine clinical care.
🔊 And that is why, on this #EuropeanSexualHealthDay, we want to raise awareness about the importance of addressing sexual health as a vital component of overall well-being
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