AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – Health practitioners should be willing to provide information about sexual aids and positions that will allow patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to continue to enjoy a healthy sex life without risking joint pain or damage, according to a presentation at the 2006 EULAR meeting by Ylva Helland, RN, a rheumatology nurse at the Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, Norway. According to a survey of RA patients, 1 in 3 RA patients complain that their condition has "a considerable impact on their sexuality," with 1 in 10 reporting that the disease makes any sexual activity almost or totally impossible, Ms. Helland says.1

"RA causes multiple medical, physical, and psychological problems, all of which have the potential to impair patients' ability to conduct everyday tasks that others take for granted. It would seem logical that a considerable prevalence of sexual problems exist among RA patients, and yet research in the area of sexuality is very limited." — Ylva Helland, RN
"RA has a wide-ranging impact on patients' health, causing multiple medical, physical, and psychological problems, all of which have the potential to impair patients' ability to conduct everyday tasks that others take for granted," she said. "It would seem logical that a considerable prevalence of sexual problems exist among RA patients, and yet research in the area of sexuality is very limited."

One consequence of this lack of research is that sexuality and arthritis is a taboo subject in the consulting room. "The results of the survey indicate the need for a greater awareness of the effect of RA on sexual activity, and the fact that sexual health should be addressed as part of the general healthcare given to RA patients," Ms. Helland said at the meeting. "It's a complex problem and requires a broad, multidisciplinary approach by health personnel to ensure patients are not limited in their ability to have sex."

The study of 1041 patients with an average age of 60 who had suffered RA for more than 10 years found that men were most likely to report that their health status had a significant impact on their sexual activity, with patients who had <12 years of education more likely to complain of sexual problems. "Surprisingly, joint pain associated with the disease was not reported as a significant factor in interfering with patients' sex life," Ms. Helland said. "The real problems seemed to be high levels of fatigue and functional limitation."

In a related presentation,2 Connie Ziegler, project manager at the Danish Rheumatism Association, told meeting participants that patients were unclear about whom they should talk to about their concerns with regard to RA and their sex lives. "Healthcare professionals seldom discuss the issue with their patients," Ms. Ziegler said. "I have had arthritis for 30 years, and no healthcare professional has ever asked me whether I have had problems with my sex life. Yet the truth is that arthritis should not be a [barrier] to a good sex life. In Denmark, we believe that people with arthritis can be better lovers because we have to use our imagination."

Ms. Ziegler said forums such as EULAR should address issues such as the best way for health professionals to speak to their patients about how arthritis can affect their sex lives; where patients can go if they have questions or problems in this area; and give examples of different sexual positions that will not harm arthritic joints.

Reference

  1. Helland Y, et al. Sexual problems in rheumatoid arthritis: associations to demographic and disease-related variables. Presented at: EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract OP0134.
  2. Ziegler, C. Relationships and sexuality: new challenge for the Social Leagues. Presented at: EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21–24, 2006; Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract SP0090.