IC Disease

Probably one of the most frustrating aspects of having IC Disease is how it affects the patient’s sex life. Many IC patients feel guilty because while they want to have sex with their spouse, the pain and flares are so severe afterward it makes the patient afraid to have intercourse. The IC patient will often feel guilty because they feel as though they are leaving their spouse down and that their spouse will think they are undesirable.

The spouse of the IC patient is also prone to feeling guilty because they see their loved one suffering from the pain after intercourse and they feel as though they did that to their husband or wife. Back before my IC was diagnosed I ended up in the hospital emergency room two times after my husband and I had sex. That is how severe my symptoms were. My husband was afraid to touch me for a while because he blamed himself.

Get Over the Guilt!

It is so important for both the patient and their spouse to get over any feelings of guilt they may have. It is not healthy for the IC patient to have the stress of guilt on him or her - this will just make their symptoms worse. The spouse of the patient should not feel guilty either. The other crucial thing both the husband and wife need to do is openly talk with each other and communicate thoroughly on the subject of sex and how it affects IC Disease.

Tomorrow’s topic will be on communicating.

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