Fibromyalgia and Female Sexuality [Paperback]

Marline Emmal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2006

Fibromyalgia and Female Sexuality is the first book on fibromyalgia to explore how the various aspects of female sexuality can impact this baffling disorder. Understanding this impact can assist a woman in coping better with her fibromyalgia.

Entire chapters are devoted to intimacy, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. This book provides up-to-date information on the many ramifications of female sexuality on fibromyalgia and gives sensible advise on how to manage the disorder's ups and downs.

Fibromyalgia and Female Sexuality is written in an easy-to-understand, conversational style. It is a self-help book that will enable the reader to alleviate some of the symptoms of pain, fatigue, moodiness and nonrestorative sleep.

It is recommended that the sexual partner of the fibromyalgia sufferer also read the book in order to assist her in overcoming the feelings of helplessness so often experienced in the face of this condition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Emmal is a long-term sufferer of fibromyalgia. She currently resides in Vancouver, B.C.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Pregnancy

If you are of childbearing age and want a family,you probably have many questions concerning how fibromyalgia will affect your pregnancy, perception of pain and your sexuality. Unfortunately,there has been almost no research conducted on these aspects of fibromyalgia and female sexuality. The only journal article published on this topic concludes that pregnancy worsens FMS symptoms, especially during the last trimester. Pain medications you have routinely been taking for FMS may need to be adjusted or even discontinued before conception. Discuss medications with your physician before you try to become pregnant so that you will not be taking drugs that could be harmful to the fetus. Increasing exercise, however, is a natural and safe way to affect your perception of pain. After giving birth, estrogen levels drop, causing a deficiency of serotonin. Postpartum depression can be triggered by the decrease in these mood-altering chemicals and should be brought to the attention of your doctor. Most symptoms will improve within six months after birth, and babies born to mothers who have fibromyalgia appear to be healthy in every way.

Your fitness level will greatly affect the course of your pregnancy. In fact, you will need to be as fit as possible even before conceiving. There are various types of exercise that you can do during pregnancy and after birth. An excellent book is 'Easy Exercises for Pregnancy' by Janet Belaskas. Most of the exercises involve gentle stretching. You may wish to do some of them on a bed rather than on the floor. This book includes a good discussion of pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels), which are essential both during and after pregnancy. They will support your expanding uterus and give you the strength to push effectively during labor. They will also prevent stress incontinence during your pregnancy when your enlarged uterus presses against the bladder. Contraction of the pelvic floor muscles during orgasm may actually assist you in becoming pregnant, as it is believed that the contractions of the uterus during orgasm may help propel sperm from the uterus into the fallopian tubes, where it will fertilize an egg.

Product Details

• Paperback: 68 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (July 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552125807
• ISBN-13: 978-1552125809
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,320,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Important piece of the puzzle for female Fibro sufferers and their partners, July 23, 2011

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StephyB - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Fibromyalgia and Female Sexuality (Paperback)

Though short, this well-rounded book is packed with useful information and helpful suggestions for female sufferers of fibromyalgia. I found the suggestions relating to cyclical management especially helpful, and they are helping me to develop a plan to maximise my high, and low, times each month. It has been a useful informant helping me to decide whether to have a third child or not, and understand why my previous two birthing experiences were so different (the contrast being due to the severity of the fibromyalgia symptoms).
This is not an all-natural approach to fibromyalgia, and the text outlines in some detail the drugs that may be used by fibromyalgia sufferers, their benefits, side effects, and relationship to enhancing or hindering sexuality. That said, there are many natural suggestions for both relief of pain and enhancement, including helpful dietry and exercise advice, and suggested resources.
Perhaps best of all, the author shows sufferers of fibromyalgia need not let their condition take everything away from them: with some consideration, cooperation from their partner and management, women with fibro can experience just as robust a sexual life as any women, and recieve many benefits such as powerful pain relief, for their efforts.
Worth your money!