Some people find they have a reduced interest in sex after diagnosis or on treatment. Feeling depressed, tired and in pain a lot of the time may make sex a very low priority.
Interferon and ribavirin may have a number of physical and psychological side effects which are chemically induced and short term in nature. This may include a loss of libido. These will usually disappear once your treatment finishes. If you take antidepressants to deal with the psychological side effects this may exacerbate the loss of libido, but it should return once you stop the antidepressants. During this time it is important to maintain intimacy with your partner through kissing, hugging and touching.
Your partner's feelings towards sex may also have changed. They may also be anxious about transmission. If they have become your carer then they may find it difficult to also be your lover. Perhaps they are simply too tired for sex at the end of the day, possibly you both are.
Trying to maintain a sex life alongside dealing with the physical and emotional stresses of a hepatitis C infection is unlikely to be easy. It is important to communicate with each other, so neither feels to blame or rejected. Explain how you feel, physically and emotionally, ask how the other person feels. Perhaps you are both happy with the situation or both feeling equally frustrated, but by talking at least you will feel closer and the problem will be shared. Talking over the problem is much more likely to result in finding a solution. You may decide that for the time being sex is not so important and find other ways to stay close to each other. Alternatively, you may both be distressed about the present situation and decide to make plans to try to resume your sex life. If you are having difficulty in finding a solution you may wish to speak to your doctor who may be able to help or you could contact Relate, which is a counselling organisation specifically for relationship issues.
Relate will be familiar with these kinds of problems and may be able to help in finding a solution. The central telephone number for Relate is 017858 573241, alternatively your local Relate service can be found in your local telephone directory.
