How can diabetes affect sexual health in men and women?
Diabetes can affect nerves, blood vessels and hormones, contributing to erectile problems, dryness, pain or altered desire. Glucose is not the only cause: medicines, mood, relationships and other illnesses may contribute. Assessment helps identify suitable treatment.
Details
Describe the concern clearly
Explain when it started and whether pain, urinary symptoms or changes in ejaculation or erections are present. You can request a private discussion. Assessment may include medicines, nerves, circulation or recurrent infection according to symptoms.
Treatment goes beyond glucose numbers
Diabetes and blood-pressure management and stopping smoking can help, alongside symptom-specific treatment or psychological support. Suitable moisturizers or lubricants may help some dryness, but persistent pain or unusual discharge needs diagnosis.
Avoid unknown products
Do not use unverified sexual-enhancement mixtures or independently stop diabetes or blood-pressure medicines. Some erectile treatments are unsuitable with particular conditions or medicines, so share your complete medication list before starting.
Related reading: What is a normal frequency of sex, and when should a change be assessed?.