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Libido and Sexuality
Mon, 10/23/2006 - 22:49Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
I am 36 years old and not taking any AED's or any other medications (save for my asthma inhaler as needed). According to my OB/GYN, I am supposed to have arrived here in my mid-thirties in the prime of my sexuality. In fact, women are supposed to have the stamina of a young adolescent boy in our 30's...hence the show Desperate Housewives.
And yet curiously, I have little to no sex drive at all. I want to know, what gives?
I used to have a very high libido. Wanted sex several times a day just a few years ago. Now I've been thinking,"I could live the rest of my life without it." And this makes me sad because it is something that once was very important to me. But the weird part is that once I have sex, I enjoy it, it is wonderful. I can reach orgasm no problem and usually have multiple orgasms.
I have read plenty on side effects of AED's on sexuality...but is there any information on the effects of seizures itself on sexuality?
Also, can seizure effect the type of sexual desires one has? For example, can a person who was basically vanilla (traditional sexual desires) change over time and become someone interested in shall we say "alternative" experiences?
Comments
Re: Re: Libido and Sexuality
Submitted by wldhrt13 on Tue, 2006-10-24 - 15:00
(((Epi_help))) are you still there? I have one more quick question that sort of goes along with my first ones: I have heard that hormonal fluctuation, like that which one would see during women's menstruation for example, can exacerbate a seizure disorder. But can hormonal imbalance CREATE a seizure disorder?
It would seem logically possible from the little I have gleaned about neurophysiology: Our brain tranduces chemical messages into electrical impluses, which travel down myelinated axons and tell our bodies what to do/how to funtcion. Each neuron in our brain has an action potential, which springs into excitatory action at a particular threshold. The channels through which these operate are voltage-gated (sensitive). These gates are largely comprised of sodium and potassium channels. It just so happens that the chief function of our adrenal gland (at the top of our kidneys) is to regulate mineral metabolism. Minerals like sodium, calcium, potassium.
So wouldn't it make sense that if part of our endocrine system (hormones) become imbalanced, that all these channels would respond either by becoming too excitatory and send and influx of electrical activity "spikes" or... conversely inhibited and cause "slowing". I mean it would seem that hormone imbalance could end up reeking havoc with our brain's overall electrical function?
Like, it seems logical as far as the possible etiology of a seizure? now granted I have taken gross over simplification's here but ...the basic domino effect seem to fit....what do you think?
Re: Re: Re: Libido and Sexuality
Submitted by IRule on Tue, 2006-10-24 - 17:42
Aha! So...you were paying attention in Physiology class too? I agree that could cause it, it would explain catamenial seizures.
Re: Libido and Sexuality
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2006-10-24 - 12:53
Epilepsy.com has just updated information on women's issues in epilepsy on their professional site. While it is written for medical audience, lots of great info. Follow this link to take a look -
professionals.epilepsy.com/page/specpop_women.html
Hope this offers food for thought. Next, make sure to take list of questions to your doctor. There are things that can be done!
Epilepsy.com Resource Specialist
Good questions! There are links to sexual function, desire and many hormonally regulated functions for both men and women. While meds may be a factor in some people, the effect of seizures on the brain, and the areas of the brain affected can be part of the picture. While seizures involving the temporal lobe are those most commonly thought of, any area with close connections to the hypothalamus, seat of the endocrine or hormone center, can influence hormonal output and sexuality. Problems can be low sexual drive or interest, pain with intercourse or other physiological problems. Psychological factors can also influence sexuality and one of the common signs of depression is a change in sexual interest or function!
Epilepsy.com has just updated information on women's issues in epilepsy on their professional site. While it is written for medical audience, lots of great info. Follow this link to take a look -
professionals.epilepsy.com/page/specpop_women.html
Hope this offers food for thought. Next, make sure to take list of questions to your doctor. There are things that can be done!
Epilepsy.com Resource Specialist