Sexual Desire in Couples Living with Chronic Medical Conditions

When chronic disease strikes a couple, both the ill and well spouse are affected. A literature review of chronic disease reveals that an overlooked area of concern for couples living with a chronic disease is sexual desire. Diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, and breast cancer result in long periods of medical treatment and interfere with the couple’s normal routines. This can result in a loss of sexual desire. Specific causes of loss of desire in these couples include fatigue, changes in body image, concerns about fulfilling gender roles, fear, caregiving duties, sexual dysfunction, disease severity, and medical treatment. Counselors can design treatment plans that address loss of desire in couples living with a chronic disease by considering the underlying causes of loss of desire.