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Haemochromatosis
 (Hemochromatosis – American spelling)
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Sexual Dysfunction

This website contains facts, information and personal experiences of haemochromatosis
I have been asked on many occasions to write more on this delicate subject and so this section of my website will be directed at this sexual abnormality which may be embarrassing to some readers and I therefore ask you to skip this page if the contents are the least likely to embarrass you.
I am writing this piece solely on sexual dysfunction in men and I am deliberately omitting anything about the problem in women as I simply have no knowledge of it. By sexual dysfunction I am referring to the lack of or the inability of men to obtain or maintain an erection -  current research reckons that about 30% of men suffer with this problem. I am not talking about lack of fertility nor inability to ejaculate since these are separate topics.
When I was in my early forties I realised that my sexual appetite was on the wane and love making became less important to me and more difficult to accomplish. Much later when I was in my fifties and had been diagnosed with genetic haemochromatosis the possibility of having a low testosterone count was suggested as this was fairly common in men with this illness. I was tested and not unsurprisingly my testosterone level was almost non existent.

Sexual Dysfunction
by S Michael Plaut

It was explained to me that testosterone as well as being the male sex hormone was also necessary for a man’s general well being and also as an aid in helping to prevent osteoporosis or brittle bones  - a disease not unknown amongst men, but  found much more frequently in women. I was prescribed a testosterone replacement drug and for a while there was difficulty in getting the dose correct but with trial and error this was eventually achieved.  Regular erections once more became the norm and this is still the case even though I am in my seventies.
For me this was a simple story but it is not always that easy since sexual dysfunction may be caused by many different criteria not necessarily linked to your haemochromatosis.  The inability to sustain or achieve an erection could be as a result of another illness altogether such as angina, diabetes or hypertension etc. and these underlying illnesses must be looked at first. Also the condition may be caused or aggravated by various medications prescribed by your doctor.
Then there are the causes that do not arise from your physical illness but may well be a part of a non physical condition such as stress, depression or anxiety brought about because of your natural concern about the fact that you have been diagnosed as having haemochromatosis.   The condition may well be worsened by drugs provided for the stress, depression, anxiety etc. Sexual dysfunction should most certainly not be written off  as an attribute of old age as recent research indicates that most seventy year old men still remain potent and capable of an active sex life. Treatment is generally not easy and will very much depend on the root cause and for this reason it is essential to find a sympathetic doctor before resorting to Viagra and any other similar stimulation aids. A good book that covers the condition for both men and women is “Sexual Dysfunction” by Michael Plaut.
 
The Iron Disorders Institute Guide to Hemochromatosis
This book has been my bible and reference book for many years and I have never found another book that is so clearly written and so well structured as it deals with many problems through case studies and has a comprehensive index. This is the only book once offered for sale by the British Society. It is authoritative and well written and I would not be without a copy.
The Hemochromatosis Cookbook
I have always enjoyed cooking but I was a little bit phased when I realized that I would have to cook differently to limit my iron intake. Cheryl Garrison's book, has been a great help to me in keeping me focused on this dietry requirement. Cheryl's husband suffers from our complaint and Cheryl whom I have known for several years, has worked intensely to find tasty and interesting low iron dishes. She is rather an authority on G.H. and ran a lively forum for the Iron Institute of America.

 

 

 

Where can I get information and support?

Me of course: alan.mannering@btopenworld.com

or from

Janet Fernau,

British Haemochromatosis Society,

Barnet London

Tel: 020 8449 1363

E.Mail: info@haemochromatosis.org.uk

Web: http://www.haemochromatosis.org.uk/home.html

Revised: : 20th January2010  Published by: Alan Mannering, Sheldon, Birmingham and assisted by
  Compare-creditcards.com  & Myholidayhouse.co.uk also by my ex wife Dianne Mannering

 

 

 
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