Are IBS symptoms like gas and bloating stopping you from getting busy? Taking steps to manage IBS and being honest with your partner can help get you back in the mood.
Picture it: You and your partner are fooling around when you experience a gas attack or feel a sudden urge to use the bathroom.
If you’re living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),symptomssuch as bloating, gas, and abdominal pain can really kill the mood.
But it’s still possible to have a healthy and enjoyable sex life, whether you’re in a committed relationship or playing the field.
Here’s the 411 on how IBS can affect dating and sex and what you can do to bring your sexy back.
The challenges of dating and intimacy if you have IBS
IBS is a digestive condition that affects10% to 15%of people in North America. IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means you’ll get an IBS diagnosis if no other health conditions explain your abdominal pain and bowel symptoms.
“IBS-C” is the term for a type of IBS that mainly causes constipation. If you’re constipated, you may:
Along with constipation, people with IBS-C often experience symptoms such as:
These symptoms can significantly affect your quality of life, including your sex life.
A2019 surveyof 3,254 people with IBS found that the participants with IBS-C were more likely to avoid sex than people with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). They were also more likely to feel self-conscious about their bodies, which may be due to IBS-C-associated symptoms such as bloating or a swollen belly.
Feeling backed up and bloated is the last thing you want when you’re trying to get in the mood or go out on a date, which is why IBS-C can affect both new and established relationships.
Can sex trigger IBS symptoms?
Somestudiessuggest that sex can trigger IBS symptoms and that people with IBS are more likely to report pain during sex and more severe IBS symptoms after sex.
What’s more, stress and anxiety are well-knownIBS symptom triggers, so those first date or pre-sex jitters may very well worsen your symptoms.
That’s because the brain can influence the function of your enteric nervous system, which is your gastrointestinal tract’s ownindependent nervous system. Think of the gut-brain axis as a communication network that links the enteric nervous system with the central nervous system. This allows your brain to influence your gut and your gut to influence your mood. It can be a real vicious cycle!
This means the feelings and emotions that come with and after sex and the anticipation of a romantic encounter can trigger IBS-C symptoms such as bloating and pain.
Can bowel problems affect sex?
Constipation and bloating can make sex painful and uncomfortable for anyone.
Let’s face it: When you’re gassy and constipated, getting intimate is probably the last thing you feel like doing.
Additionally, women with IBS-Ccommonly reportexperiencing dyspareunia — genital pain that occurs before, during, or after sex.
People with IBS-C may choose to avoid sexual encounters, especially when they’re dealing with significant symptoms.
Advice for managing IBS symptoms
Sexual dysfunction in people with IBS may be directly related to symptom severity. Chances are that taking steps to manage your IBS can help improve your sex life and self-confidence.
And there’s a lot you can do to manage your IBS and reduce your symptoms.
Make some dietary changes
Many people with IBS report that certain foods can trigger or worsen their IBS symptoms.Researchsuggests that diets that cut out potentially problematic foods and ingredients can be helpful for people with IBS.
Diets that have been shown to beeffectiveinclude gluten-free diets, low FODMAP diets, and diets high in specific fibers.
If you’re interested in changing your diet or trying out an elimination diet to better understand how foods affect your symptoms, consider working with a doctor or a registered dietitian who specializes in digestive diseases. They can give you evidence-based dietary tips and recommend supplements that may help reduce IBS-C symptoms.
Try to reach or maintain a moderate weight
Having high body fat levels is linked to anincreased riskof digestive diseases such as IBS, and being overweight is associated with more severe symptoms in people who already have IBS. Plus, medical treatments for IBS, such as medications, may be less effective in people who are overweight.
There’s also a stronglinkbetween obesity and constipation in general. If a doctor suggests that losing weight could help you manage your IBS-C symptoms, speak with them about the best way to do that.
Talk with your doctor
It’s important to have a trusting and open relationship with a doctor who can help you manage your IBS. Be honest about your symptoms and how they’re affecting your sex and dating life.
Your doctormay recommendcertain medications and supplements that can help improve IBS-C symptoms, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors and fiber supplements. They may also order tests to rule out underlying causes of your symptoms, such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
Intimacy and dating tips
Whether you’re prepping for a date or just want to get busy with a longtime partner, there’s plenty you can do to improve your physical and emotional comfort level.
Here are some tips that may help you get — and stay — in the mood:
Most importantly, if you’re not feeling well, don’t feel pressured to have sex.
Take advantage of times when your symptoms are mild or nonexistent so sex can be a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
The bottom line
If you’re living with IBS-C, symptoms such as bloating and abdominal pain may interfere with your sex life. But there’s plenty you can do to reduce your IBS symptoms and make sex more enjoyable.
Changing your diet, visiting your doctor, and being open and honest with sexual partners are just some of the ways you can improve your sex life when living with IBS-C.
