Liver Health and Sexual Dysfunction
Who is at Risk for Sexual Dysfunction?
While most people with chronic liver disease experience a normal desire for sex as well as normal sexual function, any male or female with chronic liver disease is at risk for experiencing sexual dysfunction.
Statistics show about 2% of healthy, middle-aged males, without liver disease, experience erectile dysfunction and decreased interest in sex which is about the same for males with early stage liver disease. Females with liver disease appear to experience normal sexual function with the exception of those with liver disease caused by excessive consumption of alcohol.
However, depending on the cause of the liver disease, medications used to treat the disease and the mental and emotional state of the patient, when sexual dysfunction occurs, it can be moderate to severe.
References
Cohen, O.M.D., L.Ac Misha Ruth, Gish, M.D Robert G. with Doner Kalia The Hepatitis C Help Book. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2001
FamilyDoctor.org “Sexual Dysfunction in Women” http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/sex-dys/612.html
Retrieved April 8, 2011
MayoClinic.com “Female Sexual Dysfunction” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/female-sexual-dysfunction/DS00701 Retrieved April 8, 2011
MayoClinic.com “Sexual Health Basics” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sexual-health/MY01464 Retrieved April 8, 2011
Palmer, M.D. Melissa “Sex and Liver Disease” http://www.liverdisease.com/sex.html Retrieved April 8, 2011
PubMed.gov “Sexual dysfunction: overview of prevalence, etiological factors, and treatments” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12476261 Retrieved April 8, 2011
WebMd.com “Sexual Problems in Men” http://men.webmd.com/mental-health-male-sexual-problems Retrieved April 8, 2011
