Blog

You take the medications to feel better, so you can live well with rheumatoid arthritis. And when you think of side effects, it’s mostly things like nausea and fatigue that come to mind. No one ever expects the medications to mess with your sex life.

But they can. In my new article for HealthCentral, and take a look at sexual side effects from rheumatoid arthritis medications:

“You take medication for your rheumatoid arthritis (RA) so you will feel better and be able to live more fully. But what if one of those medications starts affecting your sex life?

Quality of life includes sex

One of the ways rheumatologists assess the efficacy of a given treatment is by its effect on your physical symptoms of RA. Another is by asking you to talk about your quality of life. But very few rheumatologists ask about your sex life. Also, sexual functioning is not part of the questionnaires usually used to assess quality of life.

And that’s a shame, because intimacy and sex play a significant role in how much you enjoy your life. RA affects many aspects, including your sexuality. You may experience too much pain and fatigue to feel sexual or to be able to express yourself sexually. As well, your partner may be afraid of hurting you. But if you can find a way to be gently intimate, adapting positions and using supportive cushions, it can bring the two of you closer and make you feel better about yourself.”

Read more about sexual side effects from RA meds on HealthCentral.