People with fibromyalgia find soon get use to the fact that their daily activities can be disrupted the many and varied unpleasant symptoms of this syndrome. Certain symptoms such as pain, fatigue and depression can also undermine their sexual lives.

The first symptom that most people with fibromyalgia feel is pain. Sometimes diffuse, sometimes pin pointed in several areas of the body at the same time. The pain can be constant pain for some sufferers and is sometimes so strong that it disrupts sleep and limits activities.

The intensity of pain varies among individuals, moments of the day, menstrual periods or episodes of life. Stress can increase the intensity or frequency of pain crises in some, while in others the pain is constant and it disturbs sleep and eats away their reserves of energy. For some people, chronic fatigue is a more disturbing symptom than pain. Depression is a common symptom, caused by a deficiency of neurotransmitters, but also because the disease itself is depressing - disrupted daily activities, fatigue, low energy, pain. The majority of sufferers recognize that these symptoms that impair their daily activities also affect their sexual activity and especially their levels of sexual desire.

The Impact of Pain on Sexuality

The symptoms of fibromyalgia often cause a loss of interest in sexual activity. Most couples in which one person experience changes in their sexual lives, which often leads to tension. If there is a lack of knowledge about the condition the non-suffering partner may find it difficult to be empathetic and understanding towards the other. This often provokes stress, unpleasant emotions (anger, sadness, frustration) and anxiety. In turn, this will exacerbate the symptoms of the disease and frustrate sexual desire. The absence or decrease in sexual desire is often associated with other sexual problems such as inadequate lubrication resulting in pain during penetration, or difficulty obtaining an erection, maintaining an erection, and to achieve orgasm and ejaculation. Also, some of the antidepressants that are commonly prescribed to reduce the pain and depression of the fibromyalgia sufferer have side on sexual arousal, erection and ejaculation.

1. Relax and think about yourself. Take two periods of 20 minutes per day to be alone and use whatever relaxing technique suits you : deep breathing, yoga, meditation, a gentle walk.
2. Learn to say no.
3. Pace your activities. Balance your rest periods and activities. Some tasks are more demanding than others – follow a task that you find more demanding with an easier task.
4. Include in your daily schedule activities that make you happy (eg: watching a movie, exercise, massage, reading, painting, singing………)
5. Identify your limitations and your potential.
6. Organise according to your limitations and preferences as far as you can.
7. Don’t isolate or be isolated by your fibromyalgia. Talk to people who understanding the syndrome : other sufferers, partner, family, friends, doctor, sex therapist or psychotherapist.
8. Develop, encourage and maintain healthy communication with your partner.
9. In bed, focus on comfortable sexual positions and the use of pillows to keep you comfortable. This will also help you to work out ways in which the weight of your partner will not make you uncomfortable.

Fatigue is the Number One Enemy of sexual desire. It is therefore essential that all people with fibromyalgia develop strategies to manage their energy to prevent the onset of severe fatigue which is often responsible for the negative emotions of frustration, impatience, a sense of lack of control and incompetence.