Sexuality and Chronic Illness - Essay Example

Sexuality and Chronic Illness Insert Insert s Introduction Sexuality is the way in which people view themselves as being male or female. Sexuality is characterized by the ways people verbally or nonverbally communicate their comfort about themselves to others and feelings about their bodies (McInnes, 2003). Sexuality also involves the ability of an individual to have satisfying sexual behaviors. At times, chronic illnesses threaten the sexuality of people. However, sexuality does not end with a diagnosis of chronic illness nor when people reach a certain age. Sexuality is important in a person’s life as it leads to quality life and it is a way of showing human connection, care and aliveness. In people’s lives to define sexuality, the term gender is used. Gender is used to determine the sex of an individual being male or female. Gender is used to discuss the different identities, expectations and roles that the society associated with being male and female (McInnes, 2003). People in general view themselves in many ways as male or female. People use social, cultural and psychological characteristics when viewing their gender. Two terms describe behaviors associated with men and women; feminine and masculine. For most people, the sense of being male or female begins when one is young. Most people sense to belong to a certain gender according to their sexual body parts and their physical appearance. People develop certain behaviors and attitudes as per their societies and cultures. In these social and cultural environments individuals are expected to act, feel and think in a particular way according to their masculine or feminine gender. One cannot conceive the idea of sex as being prior to that of gender since the two are a product of cultural, social and political factors. In the society today, people use different ways to view themselves as being male or female. Gender identification is one of the ways that people view themselves and mostly occurs when one is young. Children in their early years try to identify themselves with the same-sex parent. A boy identifies himself with the father and the girl identifies herself with the mother. People use language to view themselves as male or female. In English, words such as mankind and chairman are used to denote set positions for both men and women though they are biased to the male side. Other words include lady and gentleman used to identify duties for men and women. At times, people use mode of dressing as a way to view their gender. For mothers, they at times dress their children who are girls in pink colored clothes and those who are boys in blue colored clothes. Therefore, cloth color is used as a way to view one’s gender. Cognition is a way that individuals use to view themselves as being male or female. It is through how each person’s thoughts process abilities. When children start to think about being female or male, their activities become organized according to gender. This influences them to behave like girls or boys as culture in which they live in defining. Though it is obvious there is a difference in physical appearance between genders, the appearance, however, comes to be recognized through a cultural, social and political converse (Wincze & Carey, 2001). Since people use different ways in viewing themselves as either feminine or masculine, at times they adopt certain behaviors to express their views. In many cultures taking care of young children, is considered a feminine activity and contacts sports are considered masculine activities. When a person is identified to a particular gender, to express the view of being male a man indulges in contact sports and other masculine activities while in expressing the view of being female a woman indulges in household chores and other feminine activities. Young children, while trying to express their opinion on gender at times, imitate the behaviors of adults by watching what they do and say. Through these imitations young boys and girls are able to learn different gender roles, therefore, expressing their views of being either a boy or a girl. At other times children identify their gender with the same-sex parent and so as to express this view boy practices what the father does and the girl practices the activities her mother carries out (Wincze & Carey, 2001). Most people easily identify their gender trough their sexual body parts and physical appearance. To others it is hard to fall in any gender and in some communities they are known as transgender male or female. It is hard to tell according to their appearance whether they are male or female. For a transgender male who is easily mistaken for a woman always tries to dress like a male and involve in masculine activities such as a contact sport so as to express his view of being male. Also, the females try to dress more like women and indulge in feminine activities so as to express the view of being of the female gender. In terms of language use, people use different words to express their opinion of their gender. For example, a woman married to a particular Mr. John would like to identify her name with the prefix ‘Mrs.’ Therefore, becoming Mrs. John. Mr. and Mrs. are used in expressing the fact that Mrs. John is a woman and Mr. John is a man. Parents, family members, people in the media and at school, peers and people from all walks of life within which a child or person comes in contact with culturally influences gender identity thus making people express themselves differently on how they view their gender (Paice, 2003). Sexuality being one of the aspects that define a person as being male or female does not end when one attains a particular age or when diagnosed with chronic disease. People are always sexual beings throughout their lifetime. Sexuality plays an important role in people’s personal identity, their interpersonal relationships and role development. Sexual functions of a person are sometimes disrupted because of several reasons, but that does not mean it is the end of sexuality of a person. These causes include physical, psychological, hormonal and pharmacological factors. Attainment of a certain age in the life of an individual can disrupt sexuality leading to poor sexual function. For instance, adults when they reach their menopause stage, there is a disruption of their sexual functionality (Heiman, 2002). However, having reached menopause does not mean that one start being lesser man or lesser woman. The fact is that he or she cannot reproduce but remains still a man or a woman. In addition, young girls and boys experience many changes in terms of their sexuality when they are at the adolescent and puberty stage. The changes that they experience do not signify the end of their sexuality, but a better development in their sexuality leading to better sexual function. On the other hand, chronic illness affects people’s sexual expression either directly or indirectly. Chronic illnesses impact directly on an individual through changes in pulmonary, hormonal, neurological or vascular systems while indirectly is through changes in mood, self-esteem, self-image, pain level and energy level. Chronic illness affects the sexual response of a person including arousal, orgasm and sexual desire. The disease limits a person’s ability to participate in sexual activities and positions due to mobility and pain issues. Medications given to chronically ill patients impacts greatly on their sexual function and desire their mood and energy. Myths about illness and age and certain cultural issues impact psychologically on people suffering from chronic illnesses. Despite the fact that chronic illness interferes with the sexual function of an individual his or her sexuality does not have to end. It is necessary for patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses to continue being sexually functional as it helps in their healing process and makes them feel healthy. Though many people view sex as less important as aging sets in, it is clear that the sexuality is a part of the human beings from birth up to when they die (McInnes, 2003). According to Paice (2003), when one is diagnosed with chronic illness sexuality is important as it helps the patient keep up with the illness. Sexual satisfaction and relationship are important boosters for health and crucial concern for people who suffer from chronic illness. Since the patient’s life is restricted by a chronic illness, sex is a great source of comfort, intimacy and pleasure. In addition, it helps in affirming gender when other roles of gender have been stripped by the illness. A satisfying sex life for people suffering from chronic illnesses and their partners is one of the ways that help them feel normal since many things about their lives change as a result of the illness. When one is diagnosed with an illness it can have high negative effects on sexual function and relationship of both the patient and his or her partner. Leading a satisfactory sex life when chronically ill comes with several benefits. These benefits include stress reduction and improved sleep after orgasm. The relationship is satisfactory and stable between patients and their partners. Orgasm frequency reduces death risk among people suffering from chronic illnesses. After diagnosis of chronic illness sexuality is far much important as it also contribute to the recovery of the patient. Some illnesses disrupt the sexual function of the patient and this greatly affects their healing process. For example, patients diagnosed with diabetes undergo several lifestyle changes and they lead to negative impacts on their body image and their self perception as sexual beings. However, if sexuality is well utilized by the patient, it can greatly help in promoting the health and well-being of the patient. Through the help of a physician, the patients are able to know the importance of sexuality to their wellbeing and ways in which they can use sexuality to their advantage. Sexuality is an important aspect to quality of life. Also, among patients suffering from chronic illnesses together with their partners, sex contributes greatly to their quality of life. The sexual function is a complex process and it depends on the vascular, endocrine and neurologic systems. It is also influenced by other psychological factors such as religious and family backgrounds, individual factors like self esteem and self concept and their sexual partners. Sexuality of a person is at times altered by many factors such as life experiences, illnesses and their treatment and aging of a person (Steinke, 2005). Chronically ill people encounter difficulties in sexual functioning and their relationships with their partners. Patients who have chronic illnesses have fears, physical impairment and questions that relate to sexual function. These concerns when left unaddressed they can lead to poor self-esteem, non-adherence, relationship distress, depression and deterioration of the relationship between the patient and the doctor. To avoid problems of such kind, it is beneficial for parties involved learning the importance of sexuality. This is possible through comfortably discussing sexuality and evaluating ant treating the sexual effects of chronic illnesses effectively. Therefore, it is clear that the sexuality is an important aspect to quality of life since it greatly reflects on people’s lives. When a person has a dysfunctional sex life whether chronically ill or not, many other illnesses set in such as depression and stress hence affecting the individual’s quality of life (Heiman, 2002). On the other hand, when a person has a functional sex life, negative impacts of dysfunctional sex life are eliminated thus improving the quality of life a person leads. Sexuality in a person’s life helps in role development, interpersonal relationships and personal identity. Being sexual provides pleasure to a person when many other pleasures at times lack thus helping them feel capable, normal, alive and healthy. When one feels normal and healthy because of sexual function quality of life is greatly improved. When patients are well informed on sexuality they can easily communicate with their partners and the doctor thus improving the quality of life health wise. Sexuality helps in promoting interpersonal strategies among chronic ill patients that greatly boost their quality of life. For instance, they are able to explore different sexual activities that promote their health positively. People at times place sexual activities on hold during illness, but sex remains an important part of people with chronic illness in their day to day lives. Over the years, sexuality has had little scholarly attention and sexual health professional training is limited. Healthcare professionals under-treat and under-detect sexual dysfunction among patients who suffer from chronic illnesses because of barriers to patient- doctor discussion about sex. Doctors also have minimal training on sexual health and relationship issues compared with mental and physical health issues. Though the available literature shows the importance of sexuality to patients, many health care givers do not introduce the subject to patients during clinical encounters (Steinke, 2005). They also fail at times to address sexual functions in people who suffer from chronic diseases. Chronic illnesses are complex and have lengthy treatment methods with time constraints; therefore, many doctors tend to neglect the idea of discussing with the patient about sexual functioning. Since doctors neglect the subject, patients tend to ignore bringing up the subject of sexual concerns. In addition, due to lack of adequate training, doctors at times dismiss sexual factors of health and consider them as less important than the chronic illness diagnosis and treatment. Many doctors do not have the expertise, willingness and comfort to discuss sexual aspects of their patients. For example, a study carried out showed that only 10% of men suffering from diabetes and attending diabetic clinics discussed sexuality with their doctors even if the impacts of diabetes on erectile function are very well known (Paice, 2003). Patients are at times ignorant and reluctant to bring up the subject of the sexual aspect because they are embarrassed, feeling inadequate and anxious and they fear being ridiculed. However, many people are not well informed on the fact that their dysfunction in sexual activities is related greatly to their medical treatment and condition. Such patients believe that sexual problems do not have remedies. For health care givers to get motivated to discuss the topic of sex, they have to understand that people are sometimes sexually interested even if they are ill, disabled or old. So that doctors can be able to discuss sexuality subject with their patients they have to improve on several issues including acquiring knowledge, acquiring skills and attitude change. Doctors have to acquire the information on sexual dysfunction and function and the impact of medications and illness on sexual functions, (Heiman, 2002). Health care givers should have the skills on how to start a topic of sex in order to discuss with their patients and their partners. Doctors should also change their attitudes and shun myths and stereotypes that limit them from discussing sexual functions. In conclusion, chronic illnesses are frustrating for both patient and doctor and since it is hard to limit effects of the illness. It is up to the doctor to make a positive difference by giving advice in important areas of relationships and sexuality. Therefore, it is clear that the sexuality is a great contributor to many patients who have chronic illness and their partners in terms of quality of life. References Heiman, J. (2002). Sexual Dysfunction: Overview of Prevalence, Etiological Factors, and Treatments. Journal of Sex Research, 39(1):73-8. McInnes, R. (2003). Chronic Illness and Sexuality: Medical Journal of Australia 179, 263-6 Paice, J. (2003). Sexuality and Chronic Pain: American Journal of Nursing, 103(1):87- 9 Steinke, E. (2005). Intimacy Needs and Chronic Illness: Strategies For Sexual Counseling And Self-Management Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 31(5):40-50. Wincze, J. & Carey, M. (2001). Sexual Dysfunction: A Guide to Assessment and Treatment. 2nd Ed New York: The Guilford Press. Read More