Re SEX AND PSC

[Guest guest]

The discussion on ED seems very accurate. I've been researching this for an article in our newsletter, PSC-News. I'm hoping to get this out to subscribers well before the Conference.

The question, I know, was about ED - it's a pity we don't broaden the discussion to women PSCers who are one third of PSC sufferers. As usual women are neglected in this field - by researchers too.

Women with advanced PSC may also suffer hypogonadism - the ovaries may not function efficiently and there is oestrogen deficiency. There are blood tests for this. I'm not very knowledgeable about treatments.

Almost all researchers are men (so how do they know?), and they claim that in any case over 40% of women suffer sexual dysfunction - they claim this especially if they're on the payroll of Pfizer and other drug companies producing meds in this area. Unfortunately for the poor drug companies they have been unable to make a second huge mountain of profit because they have not found convincing evidence that viagra and other phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors are much use to women.

Palmer, "Guide to hepatitis and liver disease," is fairly good on this. She has a warning about Interferon which is used in liver disease because of its antifibrotic properties. Some of us are taking it as one of the new family of biologicals for IBD. A few woman have suffered the side-effect of vaginal dryness and irritation.

But we also have to factor in our comorbidites like IBD which the majority of us have.

Going to the toilet many times a day with possible bleeding and fatigue which follows is not known to be an aphrodisiac. 0steoporosis doesn't help either. Some of us have diabetes. Diabetics often complain of weak sexual feelings

A recent study of 1000 men and women with IBD concluded that "Depression is the most important determinant of low sexual function." Obviously how active the colitis or Crohns is must also be important.

(Sexual function in persons with IBD. A survey with matched controls." Clin. Gast. and Hep. Vol.5 Issue 1 87-94, Jan.2007

Us British tend to be more reticent in sexual matters so I had hoped to post the first draft of

the article to the Group for some feedback, especially from women PSCers, for whom we have little evidence. But I've been pressed for time. There is still time for this. For complete confidentiality email me to ivor.sweigler@... Any material will be used with complete anonymity.

P.S. Specially for Dave. It may be useful to know 1mg of viagra in a solution, "can double the shelf-life of cut flowers making them stand up straight for as long as a week beyond their natural lifespan..." (Viagra makes flowers stand up straight. BMJ 1999;319;274 (31st July)

IVOR.