Is diabetes causing erectile dysfunction?

[sugarless sue]

I understand what you are asking Goji,I just think that there is not anything specific to diabetes and sexual dysfunction for women because,they change hormone -wise and ,even women without diabetes get sexual problems at any age.It would therefore be difficult to say that just diabetes causes sexual dysfunction when you have to factor in all the other changes.However,woman of any age ,with or without diabetes can get sexual dysfunction ,there is not a specific condition called sexual dysfunction in woman,caused by diabetes.

In this factsheet from the SDA link it does discuss it however.

http://www.sda.uk.net/downloads/SexandD ... nWomen.pdf

 

[goji]

Hi Sue

I agree that women's sexual functioning is multifactorial but everything you say of women can also be applied to men.

For example, men of any age can get ED for multiple reasons including psychosexual, metabolic (diabetes/hypothyroidism), neurological, hormonal (hypogonadism), alcohol abuse etc.

Also men go through an andropause with declining levels of testosterone and DHEA as they age which has a resultant effect on sexual functioning.

Sexual dysfunction in both genders is more prevalent in the diabetic population than in the normal population.

My point is that diabetic women can suffer damage to the small blood vessels and autonomic neuropathy as a direct complication of diabetes. These diabetic complications can serve as a physiological cause of sexual dysfunction in women leading to clitoral numbness, lack of engorgement and decreased lubrication. This is little discussed by consultants etc. and does not appear on the NHS CHOICES website.

The fact that there are multiple reasons for sexual dysfunction should not preclude the NHS from providing information about the possible physiological complications of diabetes to diabetic women.

In mitigation I did just find this 2009 NHS document from Portsmouth NHS trust that acknowledges the links between diabetes and female sexual dysfunction.....

SEXUAL FUNCTION
It might be expected that women
with diabetes have a higher rate of
sexual problems than women without
diabetes because the tissue and nerve
supply of a woman’s sexual organs
is actually very similar to that of a
man. The available evidence plus our
own work suggests that reduced
lubrication in the vaginal area is the
major difference between diabetic
and non-diabetic women. Female
lubrication occurs during the
arousal phase of the sexual response
cycle. This is the same phase that
leads to erections in men.
The relationship between different
physical sexual problems is complex
and it seems likely that this reduced
lubrication, together with reduced
sensation in the vaginal area may
lead to more painful intercourse,
less likelihood of orgasm and a
reduced sex drive in some women.
http://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/Diabetes-Arc ... Voice9.pdf

 

[cugila]

Hi goji.

Might be an idea as you feel strongly about it to tackle the NHS Choices website and NICE yourself via an e-mail or letter asking them to explain why they don't directly cover the subject in more depth with regard to Diabetes ? There is a lot of guidance by NICE regarding infertility in couples, don't know whether that is of any help ?

We can only post the links and information available to us. I do understand what you are saying but that is for them to address, not this forum.

 

[goji]

Might be an idea as you feel strongly about it to tackle the NHS Choices website and NICE yourself via an e-mail or letter asking them to explain why they don't directly cover the subject in more depth with regard to Diabetes ? There is a lot of guidance by NICE regarding infertility in couples, don't know whether that is of any help ?

We can only post the links and information available to us. I do understand what you are saying but that is for them to address, not this forum.

Lots of people use this forum to raise awareness or complain about the poor health advice we are given by the NHS - eg. poor dietary advice, poor advice on testing for Type 2 diabetics etc.

Mog mentioned that we don't hear about the effects of diabetes on women's sexual functioning. I went on to point out that these issues are not very well addressed by the NHS with regards to diabetic women in comparison to diabetic men.

Would you prefer we don't talk about poor NHS service provision on the forum?

 

[cugila]

Goji.

Why, have you apparently taken offence at me advising you to contact the organisations that you have got a problem with ? Nowhere have I tried to offend you or discourage your posts ?

I cannot understand your reaction. :?:

As for your last sentence, discussion is always welcome here and nobody is trying to stifle it. You have made your point here. This thread has been derailed as the OP was about Erectile Dysfunction.

If you want to open another Topic about Women's Sexual Health matters then feel free to do so.

 

[goji]

I do understand what you are saying but that is for them to address, not this forum.

Hi Cugila
No worries. Perhaps I misinterpreted this part of your comment.
goji

 

[cugila]

Hi goji.

No problems. Keep posting.

 

[broxiebear1]

well i am t2 52 years old and i definatley dont have that problem :twisted: thank god

 

[ColinBhoy]

At the risk of undermining my virilty (which is my concern on replying to this ...guess its a 'man thing' lol), here's my tuppence worth on this...
I am 52, Type 2, and was dignosed last December. With little or no support other than this forum (due to living and working overseas), I had gone downhill fairly rapidly over the last year or so. My diabetes is also compounded (and probably accelerated) by my years of smoking and heavy drinking/bingeing. The symptoms also included the dreaded ED, which for me was a severe blow, given my rampant behaviour in years gone by. I had actually begun to accept that maybe age had finally caught up with me and all the days of fun and sexual enjoyment were behind me!
However, after a recent holiday back home and several tests and meetings with diabetes professionals and doctors, I seem to have been given a new lease of life.
My background as a chemist had led me to spend some time exploring my problems prior to my return home (something to pass the time out here in Africa), and I had concluded that my testosterone levels were low, and that I possibly had developed some nerve damage. Before returning to the UK I cut back drastically on my smoking (from 40 per day to about 3, and now almost stopped, yippee!), cut down the carbs, stopped my weekend binge drinking (happens to a lot of lonely travellers, stuck in remote locations and far from home ...okay, so its an excuse, but true for me!).
Anyway, my low testosterone is confirmed, but no nerve damage seen yet (thank God), so I have been prescribed a plethora of drugs to help me get back to some sort of normaility. Metformin, testosterone gel, statins, losec and aspirin are now all working pretty well in getting my life back to a place where I am comfortable with things again. The biggest assist has come from the testosterone gel, which while making me feel like an aggressive teenager again for the first few days, has now settled down and somewhat restored my libido. I have used Cialis in the past (Viagra is way too harsh for me), which works for longer (even up to 2 days later), but find myself not needing it as much now. I am also working hard to reduce my weight and improve my liver function (cutting out the alcohol). I have not started the statins yet as I want to ensure my liver can cope with them, so will do that when my function tests have improved (experience tells me this will take at least a month).
The main point I want to make is that this whole process has taken on its own momentum now, which is great for me. As I start to see small improvements, I work harder to improve more. It is certainly made my wife a lot happier, who had seriously thought that I didn't love her anymore, regardless of the information I provided her with to show how I am affected by all of this.
I guess it is the price I pay for the life I have led, coupled with only finding out about my family's history of diabetes AFTER I was diagnosed! Perhaps if I had known before, I would have made sure I took better care of myself ...hmmm, probably not
Hope this helps,
Colin.

 

[Celtic.Piskie]

Because female ED is a helluva lot bigger problem than male.
No offence men, but women are a lot more complicated lol.
Women's ED is a lot less understood. It should be rectified, but it's nothing to do with diabetes

ED in women is a very, sadly, poorly understood topic.

Male ED is a lot esier, relatively speaking, to diagnose, treat, and find out the causes.
Women, not so much.

 

[Fujifilm]

ED is a problem and Diabetes can be the cause of it, I have been diabetic for over 25 years and I would say for about five I have had problems, the trouble is if it "does not work" you worry about it "not working", if you worry about it "not working" it does not work.

You end up getting depressed and that causes more problems, your wife gets the hump because you are not performing, you get the hump because your wifes got the hump and you can see where I am going, downward spiral.

Eventually I went to my GP and found it suprising easily to say my tackle is not working, the GP who has heard it all and seen it all before, arranged blood tests, gave me Viagra which worked but gave me bad indigestion, I then went onto Cialis and they do the trick, actually I was a bit naughty and told the doc that I was having to take two low dose to get things going so he upped the dose and now I chop them in half, so instead of 4 tablets I end up with 8 :mrgreen:

Don't buy them from the internet. Far too risky. If you don't want to take a prescription to the chemist you can send your prescription to an online chemist to fill and they post it to you so nobody need be any the wiser. A friend of mine does it that way.

The sooner you have a chat with your doc the quicker you get it sorted. Wish I had done a few years ago.

 

[goji]

It seems complaining to the powers-that-be can actually achieve something!!!

After the discussion we had on this thread, I wrote to NHS Choices about not listing female sexual dysfunction as a complication of diabetes and they have agreed to change the page and have updated the complications page to include under sexual dysfunction.....

"Women with diabetes may experience a reduced sex drive, reduced pleasure from sex, a lack of vaginal lubrication, a reduced ability to orgasm, or painful sex. Women who suffer from a lack of vaginal lubrication or painful sex may find a vaginal lubricant or water-based gel very helpful."
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes/P ... tions.aspx

Now if only we could get the PCTs to be so responsive to complaints about test strips for Type IIs.

 

[cugila]

What a great result goji, perseverance and direct action pays......

 

[candyfloss]

Hi Alan1in

I'm sorry i cant answer your original question but I can tell you I have been using generic Cialis (Tadalafil) for about 5-6 years. The first occasion I was offered some genuine Cialis oral gel by a friend just to try it out and it had a positive and quick effect (unlike subsequent experiences with Viagra). However I didnt find it absolutely essential to acheive an erection and wasnt a regular user. However about 2 years ago my Dr put me on medication for hypertension. Although the hypertension was brought under control I began to experience ED on occasions and got my Doc to prescribe Cialis. However finding out the preposterous cost of 'the real thing' from the local pharmacy soon led me to search the internet for a reliable and cheaper supplier of the generic variety. I now buy all my supplies (Tadalafil) online from abroad and the cost is a mere £1.25 per 20mg pill (per order of 60). However I split each pill as 10mg is enough and its effect can last 2 to 3 days. So thats all it costs me, £1.25 per week, a small price to pay. My strong advice is to try it - after talking it over with your Doc first. I am T2, diagnosed 3 months ago and controlling it reasonable well by a low(er) carbohydrate diet and exercise.
There ARE reliable online suppliers of Tadalafil (& Cialis) and you do not need to pay through the nose. I have no idea whether herbal remedies work (personally I wouldnt touch them with a barge pole) but do you know whats in them?

 

[philipburdekin]

Has anyone managed to buy extra viagra on the internet and has anyone got any recomendations as where to buy some extra , 4 a month is a joke really.

 

[joekew]

I have been struggling with getting a proper erection for about a year. I'm 55, diagnosed type 2 about 18 months ago, on Metformin and Simvastatin. I cycle and exercise in the gym 3-5 times a week and have got my 3 month blood sugars down to 7, which my doctor is happy with. My doctor didn't want to prescribe me strips to test myself last year so I bought them myself. They are really expensive but I found them useful to check the effects of different foods on my blood sugar - I used to test myself 3 times a day now I only do it once a week. So, I knew my 3 month one would give results around 7.
My doctor seems intent on saving the NHS money and always refers to the costs of drugs. Metf seemingly are only 2p each so that's ok. But I could only get Viagra from my GP on a private prescription and was a bit shocked that 4 cost me £30. Is this a bit of a postcode lottery or are all GPs refusing to prescribe Viagra on the NHS?

 

[sugarless sue]

Cost of Viagra according to the BNF.

(1)Viagra® (Pfizer) Prescription-only medicine Preparations not available for NHS prescription
Tablets , all blue, f/c, sildenafil (as citrate), 25 mg, net price 4-tab pack = £16.59, 8-tab pack = £33.19; 50 mg, 4-tab pack = £19.34, 8-tab pack = £38.67; 100 mg, 4-tab pack = £23.50, 8-tab pack = £46.99

 

[SweetGuy]

I have been struggling with getting a proper erection for about a year. I'm 55, diagnosed type 2 about 18 months ago, on Metformin and Simvastatin. I cycle and exercise in the gym 3-5 times a week and have got my 3 month blood sugars down to 7, which my doctor is happy with. My doctor didn't want to prescribe me strips to test myself last year so I bought them myself. They are really expensive but I found them useful to check the effects of different foods on my blood sugar - I used to test myself 3 times a day now I only do it once a week. So, I knew my 3 month one would give results around 7.
My doctor seems intent on saving the NHS money and always refers to the costs of drugs. Metf seemingly are only 2p each so that's ok. But I could only get Viagra from my GP on a private prescription and was a bit shocked that 4 cost me £30. Is this a bit of a postcode lottery or are all GPs refusing to prescribe Viagra on the NHS?

If you have doctor who thinks his mission in life is to save the NHS money it sounds like it is time you found a different one. If you are diabetic you are entitled to Viagra and similar on a NHS prescription for which you should pay nothing if you are taking diabetic medication.

I think the whole Viagra thing though isn't just down to cost. I think their is also a strong element of sexual politics. If there is a drug that resolves equivalent problems for women you can bet that it's NHS availability would be unrestricted.

 

[joekew]

Thanks SweetGuy and Sue. Food for thought there. I like my doctor and don't really want to change - he looks for natural solutions to ailments: it would seem that few illnesses cannot be ameliorated by getting into your running gear and starting to pound out a few miles jogging. Maybe he thinks I need to become accustomed to going into retirement on the sexual activity front? That viagra did the trick for me last week: fantastic to get back in the saddle, as it were. Now I am torn between finding an on-line source of a generic viagra and going back and demanding my medical, diabetic rights! My suspicion is that he believes there is too much pharmaceutical advertising directly at patients these days.

 

[droidy]

i was diagnosed in feb with type 2
since then ive lost weight dropped my blood pressure and cholesterol
my hb1ac has gone from from 7.9 to 5.3 last appointment with diabetic nurse went well she said ive got exceptional control over the condition BUT i have no sex drive at all if i do manage to get an erection it lasts for only a few minutes and as a big strapping 41 yr old guy its embarrassing so i bit the bullet and went to the dr . who basically said it was in my head ,has nothing to do with the condition and i should accept im getting older and its not going to be as it was when i was 18
so can someone please tell me how do i recover from that !!!! :