Social – Sex Life – KidneyPal

sex life

Social Domain

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SOCIAL

In the Social Domain, the sociodemographics that were moderately correlated were age, educational attainment, occupational status, and household income. These four factors had a stronger relationship to social quality of life (QoL) compared to the other variables, which showed only weak correlations.

These factors may contribute to stronger social well-being due to their influence on access to support networks, communication skills, and opportunities for social participation. For instance, higher education can enhance interpersonal abilities, employment fosters daily interaction and structure, and sufficient income allows for greater engagement in community or family activities. While not significantly influential on their own, these factors collectively help shape more stable and supportive social environments, which are crucial for individuals undergoing long-term treatment.

Sex Life

The state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality (WHO, 2006).

General Interventions

(For age, sex, marital status, household income, comorbidities)

1. Normalize intimacy concerns with your care provider.

Openly discussing sexual health with your healthcare provider allows for proper management of issues like fatigue, libido changes, or body image concerns (Finkelstein et al., 2008).

2. Rebuild intimacy through non-sexual affection.

Hugging, touching, cuddling, and sharing personal time are vital in maintaining a sense of closeness during physically difficult times. (Brown et al., 2019).

3. Engage in counseling as a couple.

Therapy with your partner can help navigate feelings of inadequacy, communication barriers, or shifting roles due to illness. (Kang et al., 2017).

4. Manage fatigue through energy conservation techniques.

Plan daily activities around dialysis sessions to reduce exhaustion and preserve energy for intimacy and relationship-building (Flythe et al., 2021).

Educational Attainment-Based Interventions: Lower Formal Education

1. Use picture-based sexual education tools

Provided by health centers or kidney organizations to improve understanding between you and your partner (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

2. Practice guided non-verbal intimacy routines

Like hugging or handholding exercises to foster emotional connection without requiring complex language (Silva et al., 2016).

3. Explore structured partner bonding activities

Using low-literacy intimacy guides or audio-based resources (Harrison et al., 2020).

Educational Attainment-Based Interventions: Higher Formal Education

1. Read medically accurate books or watch evidence-based videos

About sexuality and chronic illness to deepen understanding with your partner (Harrison et al., 2020).

2. Engage in sensate-focus exercises

To rebuild physical intimacy gradually and safely (Bitzer & Platano, 2020).

3. Participate in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) practices

To manage stress and improve emotional intimacy (Bitzer & Platano, 2020).

Household Income-Based Interventions: High Income

1. Seek professional sexual health counseling

With a specialist who understands chronic kidney disease (Harrison et al., 2020).

2. Purchase books, guides, or online intimacy courses

Designed for couples managing chronic illness (Bitzer & Platano, 2020).

3. Enroll in wellness retreats or couple’s therapy programs

that offer structured intimacy-building practices (Bitzer & Platano, 2020).

Household Income-Based Interventions: Low Income

1. Access free educational brochures or audio content

From kidney foundations to discuss intimacy with your partner (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

2. Use simple at-home intimacy routines

Such as watching a favorite movie together or cuddling to reinforce emotional closeness (Silva et al., 2016).

3. Join free online support or sexual wellness webinars

Hosted by hospitals or nonprofits focused on chronic illness (Hoang et al., 2022).

Occupational Status-Based Interventions: Employed

1. Engage in open communication with partners about sexual life.

Set aside time to discuss sexual concerns with your partner, acknowledging how work and dialysis impact intimacy, to strengthen connection and reduce anxiety (Najafi et al., 2020)

2. Request flexible work schedules to reduce fatigue.

To conserve energy and reduce stress, which can improve sexual desire and performance (Segura-Orti et al., 2021).

3. Manage work-life balance.

Engage in brief physical activity sessions before or after work to boost energy, circulation, and sexual function (Segura-Orti et al., 2021).

Occupational Status-Based Interventions: Unemployed

1. Participate in counseling or sex therapy.

To address psychological, emotional, or relational factors affecting sexual function and satisfaction (Kang et al., 2017).

2. Manage physical symptoms that affect sexual function.

To optimize treatment for symptoms such as medication side effects that interfere with sexual activity (Dunn et al., 2019).

3. Engage in gentle physical touch and intimacy without pressure for intercourse.

This can build intimacy and comfort, gradually improving sexual desire (Brown et al., 2019).

References

World Health Organization. (2006). Sexual health. Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research-(srh)/areas-of-work/sexual-health
Finkelstein, F. O., Shirani, S., Wuerth, D., & Finkelstein, S. H. (2008). Therapy insight: Sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease. Nature Clinical Practice Nephrology, 4(4), 200–209. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneph0776
Brown, A. L., Smith, K., & Taylor, R. (2019). Enhancing intimacy through physical touch in chronic illness: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 124, 109767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109767
Kang, H. J., Choi, H. K., Lee, M. S., & Kim, S. J. (2017). The effect of sex therapy on sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 14(3), 380–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.01.007
Flythe, J. E., Assimon, M. M., & Overman, R. A. (2021). Patient-centered strategies to improve hemodialysis patient quality of life. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 16(1), 144–146. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.14240920
Harrison, T. G., Skrtic, M., Verdin, N. E., Lanktree, M. B., & Elliott, M. J. (2020). Improving sexual function in people with chronic kidney disease: A narrative review of an unmet need in nephrology research. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, 7, 2054358120952202. https://doi.org/10.1177/2054358120952202
National Kidney Foundation. (2024). Sexual health and kidney disease. https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/sexual-health-and-kidney-disease
Bitzer, J., & Platano, G. (2020). Mindfulness and sexuality in patients with chronic diseases. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17(3), 393–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.11.002
Najafi, F., Azadvari, M., & Sharif, F. (2020). Impact of open communication on sexual health and intimacy in hemodialysis patients. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 25(4), 302–308. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_143_19
Segura-Orti, E., et al. (2021). Effects of physical exercise on sexual function in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis: A systematic review. International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease, 14, 123–132. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJNRD.S296083
Kang, H. J., Choi, H. K., Lee, M. S., & Kim, S. J. (2017). The effect of sex therapy on sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 14(3), 380–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.01.007
Dunn, S. L., Fox, R., & Prasad, B. (2019). Sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease: Pathophysiology and management. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 46(1), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/nnr.21915
Brown, A. L., Smith, K., & Taylor, R. (2019). Enhancing intimacy through physical touch in chronic illness: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 124, 109767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109767