Sex drive (lack of) and HCV

[beebs2]

I've read of problems but haven't encountered anyone on these boards or the other site I frequent having much discussion on this topic but I feel it's a very important issue...I'm late 50's - female.  Diagnosed about 10 years ago - have gradually just lost me sex drive. It now has dwindled to pretty much nothing.  What is the experience of you all in this?  Has anyone found anything to help?  My husband tries to be supportive but I don't think he ever imagined he'd be giving up on sex at our relatively young age.  We are both in good general health - I just have totally lost interest.  Have not done tx.  Thought about trying DHEA but after some research decided it was too risky for the liver.  Also heard testosterone helps but again is hard for the liver to clear.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[beebs2]

sorry - think I posted in wrong place! Have duplicated question on other forum

[Forseegood]

I don't know that you've posted in the wrong place, this is an HCV question cause HCV can encompass so much...your bravery in admitting to personal sexual issues is admirable, not everyone is willing to talk about this...I just wanted to mention that many menopausal and post-menopausal women complain of these issues, along with people who suffer depression (and God knows this is a depressing disease to have)and a whole phalanx of other diseases.  I have often heard it said that HCV impacts on a person's sexual drive, but so do these other issues, so it's hard to know what is biological and what isn't....sometimes the hardest thing about all of this is parsing out what is/does what...at my age I've come to believe that everything is connected...good luck with this...

[Lady E]

I think, as a woman in my early 50's, because we have SO many other things on our minds during tx, that sexual desires kind of take a back seat (no pun intended). Also, my mind is always racing from the riba & it's hard to focus on arousal.
But in a way, I think it's like going to work & giving it your all. You may not really feel like it, but once you get into it you may find that it turned out fine and you had more energy than you thought you had. I find that my mouth, skin & netherregions are drier than usual, and this doesn't help with sexuality. There are ways to overcome that tho & products can be purchased at the drug store or "specialty stores" ;)
I try to surprise my husband by setting some time aside, for us, as well as creating a romantic atmosphere.."interesting clothing" or lack of it helps too. It's more difficult for us too because we have my 23 yr old son living with us. But then again, maybe if we make enough noise...he'll move out! LOL
Jeeze, I hate talking about this! *blush*

[Lady E]

One more thing. I'm no therapist, but in my opinion:
In a marriage, when sex is good, it is about 25% of a relationship.
But when sex isn't good, it can be 98% of a relationship.
Try to keep it good. :)

[honey11]

Sorry to hear that you are lacking the desire because that is a very important part of marriage!  Do you know the condition of your liver?  I also tend to agree with Foresee on possibility of menopausal and was wondering if you had also run this by your gynecologist.  You are too young to not enjoy and I would definitely pursue this with a liver dr and also gynecologist.  Good Luck!

[dperry10]

It appears that age is getting younger and younger for us, to the point where we become menapausal.  It started happening for me at 40.   Which of course had been dx with HCV  15 years prior, not sure if HCV has anything to do with it or not, but it happens.  Just gotta take that extra step to ensure that you keep it up somehow, and like LadyE says there are things you can get to insure that the dryness is not an issue.

[GrandmaA]

Hi,
I'm not married and I love my lack of labido from hepatitis C. I am 64 years old. It's one of the special benefits I got from this HCV. If I was married it would definitely be a problem. But it might improve after tx is done and the HCV is gone.
Best wishes to you and I hope your hubby will be understanding now.

[scubadiver30]

I told my wife that one of the SX of this TX was gonna be a lack of libido (in addition to loosing weight & hair) I'm 45 and shes 47. Well I've gained 10 pounds, my hair is not falling yet, and I'm still performing (my wife has been more proactive though these days cause she got scared I guess lol)..Before TX I was just turn on, use and discard LOL the typical male
But I'm on week 7. Maybe on week 24 I'm gonna need all the help of blue pills, specialty stores & video I can get...LOL
But to be honest anemia & sex drive are not compatible..
although I have to agree with Rev. The times I done in TX it was the most relaxing time in months (no pain & no imsomnia afterwards)
We should try to do it more often and get those endorfines running

[aquarius64]

i am a 42 yo woman and was dx about 5yrs ago. before the dx i had a good sex drive but after dx it made me feel contagious or dirty or something. i guess part of that was due to my old behaviors when i drank and used drugs and was promiscuous. i got sober about 5 yrs ago and after that was dx 6-7 mo later. i sought counseling, it didn't help. i also worry about giving hcv to my hubby, so it's easier for me to just not think about sex. age, stress and life's demands and hcv all play a role. it's hard to get the gears in motion for me now. sometimes just jumping on board helps. afterwards i always wonder, why didn't i do that sooner???

[returntosender]

I dont think that you can assume that treatment will reduce your sex drive.  In my case, it was pushed into hyperspace and I thought about nothing else - especially in the first few months of treatment.  But when I finished, wow - then there was a HUGE letdown and lack of interest.  Now 8 months post, I am working my way back to normal libido but sometimes have to approach it like a healthy meal - I really dont feel like eating it sometimes, no pun intended goof, but I know it will be good for me (and hopefully my dinner partner).

While we are talking here, I thought I would bring something up that seemed kind of interesting.  The last few days in the NE, it was very springlike and you know I really felt much better - the best I felt in months, in fact the best I have felt since I began treatment.  Do you think the winter weather has some bearing on post treatment sides?  Hmmmm maybe I should combine the activity from the first paragraph with the activity from the second - and have a picnic!

[pluggialong]

i have the same problem as far as sex goes. i used to be ready in an instant, but in last couple of years, thie "rise in my levis" is not as strong as it was.dr say the blue pills are not an option cause of blood pressure things and such.my wife has gone kind of indifferent about it, thinking she can't satisfy. porn is probably an option, but cannot replace the real thing.  intimacy is rare, as job schedules and stuff, keep us from sleeping together like we used to.I hate this condition, but am stuck with it.

[hippygem]

Vitamin E helps with the sex drive, lol, take that from a nympho.

[Cindy10]

I agree, I'm in NE and the last few days I have felt great, well mentally anyway. I think the weather does help. Lets pray we skip winter this year.

[Forseegood]

It would be interesting if we took a "poll" (pardon the pun) on these issues...I've often wondered if a great sexual drive would come back if you cleared this disease and had some time to recoup and regroup from the treatment drugs....I haven't heard too much about these eventual possibilities, it would be nice to hear that that is what happens for many....

[Imagine]

It's hard to drive very far on an empty fuel tank

[Forseegood]

Oh yeah, I remember an old hep c board, don't want to say what it is, but they had a live sex chat, and some people would say that they were really "sexually charged up" after their interferon shot night, and they'd be on there talking nonsense...strange neck of the woods, that's the last thing I would think would be an aphrodisiac (geez, how do you spell that?) but then, like I always say, we're all little snowflakes! If that helps you out in that dept, more power to ya!