sex and PSC

[Guest guest]

The recent correspondence on ED seems very accurate - I've been doing some

research on this for an article in our " PSC-News " which I hope to post to

subscribers to reach people before the Conference. I know the question was

about males but it's a pity that nothing was said about female PSCers who

make up a third of us. As usual women are neglected in this matter and are

simply assumed to suffer from sexual dysfunction which, some misguided male

researchers assume, is normal for over 40% of women ayway - especially if

these doctors are on the payroll of Pfizer. The poor drug companies have

been unable to double their huge mountain of profit on drugs for sexual

dysfunction because they've found no evidence that women benefit much from

viagra and similar phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.

Women with more advanced PSC can also suffer from hypogonadism - in this

case underactivity of the ovaries - oestrogen deficiency. There are blood

tests for this. Palmer, " Guide to Hepatitis and liver diseases, " is

quite good on this. She warns women of a potential side-effect of Interferon

therapy - vaginal dryness, irritation etc. Interferon is believed to have

antifibrotic effects and is used to treat liver disease and also, of course,

some of us are taking it for IBD.

And that's another thing - it not exactly fun if you're running to the

toilet many times a day and have bleeding and fatigue from colitits or

Crohns. These are not aphrodisiacs! Sexual dysfunction can come from IBD.

" Sexual function in persons with IBD; A survey with matched controls. "

Clinical Gastro. and Hep. Vol.5 Issue 1. 87-94. Jan 2007.

A sample of some 1000 men and women. Concl. " Depression is the most

important determinant of low sexual function. " For those suffering IBD.

Obviously disease activity will also be a major factor. Since most of us

have IBD this also has to be factored in.

In addition comorbidities we suffer have relevance, e.g. osteoporosis

doesn't help, nor diabetes which some of us have. Sexual dysfunction is a

common complaint of diabetics.

As Aubrey says, a big plus for Ltx, is that things usually return to normal

in this respect.

I had hoped to post the first draft of the article but haven't had time. I

wanted some feedback, especially from women PSCers in the Group. There isn't

much data on this. There is still time if anybody wants to respond. For full

confidentiality

email me to ivor.sweigler@... If any data is used anonymity is

guaranteed.

P.S. For Dave - possibly useful info. Viagra prolongs the life of cut plants

by a week longer than usual - " Viagra makes flowers stand up straight. "

BMJ.199;274 (31 July). " ...1mg of the drug ...in a solution was enough to

prevent 2 vases of cut flowers from wilting for as much as a week longer

than might be expected. "

Ivor

[Guest guest]

>The recent correspondence on ED seems very accurate...

> P.S. For Dave - possibly useful info. Viagra prolongs the life of cut

plants by a week longer than usual - " Viagra makes flowers stand up

straight. "

Ivor - great use for Viagra - but the cost of the Viagra may be close

to the cost to buy a new bouquet of flowers!

Seriously - with the Erectile Dysfunction (ED) discussion - I almost

brought up another prevalent, but not talked about issue of urinary

incontinence. Don't know if there is any increased incidence of

incontinence with PSC? I do know that it is also irritating and

troublesome and no one talks about, although many deal with it.

Joanne

(, Ca; mom of , 16, UC/PSC 2-06)