Is Arthritis Hindering Your Sex Life?

Is Arthritis Hindering Your Sex Life? Sex plays a very important role in the romantic relationships we form. But arthritis can turn sex into a painful problem that threatens to strain those relationships.

The pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, fatigue and self consciousness caused by arthritis can seriously impact the quality of sex. The following are a few tips to help arthritis sufferers regain a healthy sex life.

Plan your Next Sexual Encounter It may not be as fun as sexual spontaneity, but planning can make all the difference. If you have arthritis, youre probably aware of when you usually feel the least pain and stiffness in your joints during the day. Make a schedule and take it into consideration when planning sexual encounters. Pick the time that you are most likely to feel at your best. Your partner will appreciate that you are making an effort to be intimate with them.

Loosen Up Doing a few minutes of stretching and gentle exercises before sex can increase your range of motion significantly. To stretch your hamstrings, lay on your back and bring your thigh to your chest with your knee bent and hold it for about 30 seconds on each leg. To stretch your upper body, stand up and hold your arms out in front of you for five seconds. Repeat this 10 times. Then, for the same five seconds, hold your arms behind you so that your shoulder blades touch. Repeat 10 times.

Try New Positions Dont be afraid to explore new sexual positions. Certain positions put less strain on the joints. Find one that feels comfortable to you. This may be a position that allows your partner to do most of the work, or a position in which you can easily move away if you experience sudden joint pain. Since different people suffer from different degrees of pain and mobility, there is no one position that suits all arthritis sufferers, but here are some to try.

Soothe Your Joints Taking a warm shower or bath before sex can be useful for soothing joint pain and relaxing your muscles. This technique is especially helpful when youre operating on a schedule. If you know around when your next sexual encounter will be, try taking your hot shower or bath a half-hour or so before your date. It may make all the difference.