Do you find talking about sex embarrassing? It’s always a bit embarrassing talking about sex but if you want advice (and you don’t want to talk to your parents), you can trust your GP or
diabetes team not to tell anyone about your discussions.
What are the risks?
Apart from thrush, diabetics are just as much at risk from sexually transmitted diseases as anybody else.
By practising safe sex (don’t have multiple partners and always use a condom), you reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases as well as unwanted pregnancies.
What are sexually transmitted diseases?
There is the HIV virus, which can lead to AIDS, in which your immune system starts to break down. Other sexually transmitted diseases which, if treated early enough can be cured, include Gonorrhoea, (the "Clap") Herpes, Syphilis and Thrush.
If you think you might have a problem, e.g. an unusual discharge or an itch, ask your GP or diabetes specialist for help.
Sex and hypos ...
Sex is exercise and you certainly don’t want to have a hypo during it. Have some sugar handy and check your partner knows what to do if you have a hypo.
What is thrush?
Thrush is common in boys and girls with diabetes. It is a fungal infection, which usually causes discomfort, itching and sometimes discharge from the vagina and penis. It’s common in diabetes because fungus likes sugar, so when you have sugar in your urine you can easily get thrush.
You don’t have to have sex to catch thrush as the fungus often lives harmlessly in the bowel. However sex can spread the infection.
Thrush is very easy to treat with a cream, so don’t suffer in silence.
