Chronic illnesses are long lasting sicknesses, sometimes they endure throughout a patient’s lifetime. Chronic illnesses can range from persistent headaches or asthma to fatal diseases such as cancer. These illnesses may appear infrequently as sporadic episodes, or they may be woven in a patient' day-to-day life with symptoms that worsen over time. A few well-known chronic illnesses include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), AIDS, asthma, cancer, migraines or tension headaches, chronic fatigue, and many more.

In addition to having immediate symptoms, chronic illnesses often affect a person's life in secondary ways. These illnesses can have physical, psychological, emotional, economic, and social consequences, which in turn affect the quality of life of a patient.

Chronic illness can have a noticeable impact on a patient's sex life. Physically, a chronic illness may cause fatigue, which can lead to a loss of sexual desire. These illnesses can cause pain and stiffness in one's body, which in turn affects vigor and desire. A chronic illness can have psychological effects, too. Depression, a common reaction to diagnosis of a chronic illness, is known to disturb a person's sex life.

A surgery related to illness can also influence a patient's sex life. If the surgery is performed near or directly on a person's sexual organs, the procedure might leave the patient feeling disfigured or inadequate.

Even if the illness does not require surgery, once a sexual problem results from a chronic illness, that complication can lead to anxiety and worry, which then complicate the patient's emotional and psychological state and threaten to create a vicious cycle. Shame, guilt, and fear of his or her condition and perceived inadequacies might further cause the patient to shy away from sex with his or her partner. Some chronic diseases, such as a recurring heart attack or brain-tissue bleeding, may actually require a patient to refrain from sex for a period of time or permanently.

In addition to the disease, the medicine a patient needs to take to treat his or her condition, including medication for hypertension, stomach ulcers, or depression, can affect a patient's sexual desire and performance.

A few medicines known to affect sexual performance include:

• Cimetidine: an antacid to treat heartburn

• Clonidine: used to treat extreme hypertension, Tourette syndrome, and some menstrual conditions

• Beta blockers: an adrenaline-blocking drug that often treats hypertension and heart conditions

• Some diuretics: urination-encouraging medications

• Tricyclic antidepressants: for treating depression

• Anxiolytic: which reduces anxiety

• Anticancer medicines: can include many drugs

Chronic illnesses can affect sex life in many ways. Physical changes due to a chronic illness may limit a patient's sexual ability. Chemical changes from chronic diseases such as diabetes (which affects sugar levels in the body) and kidney failure (which affects blood acidity), can adversely impact sexual organs and desire. These can also affect a patient's nervous-system function, which in turn disrupts his or her sensitivity and nervous-control performance for sexual activity. Energy levels may become compromised too. In certain chronic illnesses, such as when a mass begins to grow upon a patient's sex organs, the blood supply to his or her sexual organs might become affected.

Physical changes affected by chronic illness can cause changes to a person’s appearance, which can cause them to lose self-esteem. Medicines, such as steroids, when used in treatment of long-term diseases such as asthma or cancer, can lead to weight gain, pimples, and unwanted hair growth.

When a chronic illness requires radiation therapy, such as that applied to the pelvis, a patient might experience a damaged blood and nerve supply to his or her sex organs. Hormones can be used to treat many cancers, especially prostate cancer, which can affect male ejaculation, in turn affecting the male's sex life. These hormones can cause loss of libido or sexual desire, delayed ejaculation, and inability to achieve sexual gratification. Many hormonal effects relating to the use of medicines used in treatment of cancer and other chronic illnesses, such as depression, hypertension, and convulsions, can cause similar disruption of sexual function.

Trying to improve a patient's sex life can become an important part of his or her management of a chronic illness. The patient may want to try setting "dates" with his or her partner, specific times for sexual activity. Certain diseases, such as asthma or heart attack, are more prone to strike in the early hours of morning; avoiding sex at this time is therefore advisable.

Relaxing is equally important to beat the stress of chronic illness and its accompanying sexual adversities. Meditation, a warm bath, light music, or exercise might help.

A healthy, well-planned diet is important for maintaining energy levels. Alcohol and smoking have negative effects on sexual performance and should be avoided. If sex has become uncomfortable, new sexual positions that cause less physical discomfort may be the solution. Aphrodisiacs, lubricants, and a nice ambience can help set the mood, as well.

Involving your partner and letting him or her know what you are going through is essential. Together you and your partner may discover new techniques, such as kissing, touching, and foreplay, which can improve your sex life.

The partner of someone with a chronic illness should try to understand what is comfortable for his or her partner who is suffering pain or another limitation. Open communication, couples' counseling, and trying new positions or techniques during intercourse could help

Talking to a Doctor

A patient needs to speak to a doctor about any issues they may be facing. Health care providers and doctors of chronic illnesses might be able to suggest relevant types of sex therapy to a patient.

A doctor may be able to prescribe new medicines or a contraceptive method, implant, or devices that can help enhance a couple's sex life.