A recent article in a UK newspaper, The Daily Mail, highlighted one of the least talked about side effects of endometriosis - the impact that it can have on intimate relationships.

Beverly Sandord is a 30 year old freelance writer who has not had sex in four years, after a recurring bout of endometriosis made intercourse too painful.

Like many women with endometriosis Beverly struggled to get her condition diagnosed, having to undergo rounds of blood tests, scans and courses of antibiotics before the doctors finally discovered she had endometriosis.

The treatment that Beverly was given involved hormone injections that mimicked menopause, stopping her periods and reducing the swelling. Beverly was 21.

In her mid twenties Beverly met her current boyfriend. Her endometriosis was under control and they enjoyed a normal sex-life for around 18 months before the endometriosis and accompanying crippling pain returned. As a result Beverly and Ian have been celibate for the past four years.

However, rather than letting Beverly’s condition come between them, Beverly and Ian’s relationship has remained strong and gone from strength to strength.

So, if you’re struggling to enjoy being intimate with your partner due to painful intercourse here are some suggestions for ways to be close and enjoy one another without full intercourse:

Firstly, its important to discuss with your partner your fears about sex, any feelings of guilt you have over not being able to enjoy intercourse and how you feel this effects your relationship.

Then encourage your partner to communicate his frustrations and how he feels about the situation. Once you understand each others feeling you can start to move forward.

Learn to enjoy just spending time with other, holding hands, hugging and kissing. Putting an hour aside to bathe together and share a relaxing massage can be a wonderful way to wind down at the end of a long day.

If you want to try and rekindle your love life some women find that certain times of the month are worse than others are when it comes to pain during intercourse.

Try experimenting to see if you can find a window of opportunity for sex. Different positions can also make the world of difference - as only you know how you feel, take the initiative to find ways of having sex that don’t aggravate your endometriosis.

Resources:
‘The women who haven’t had sex in 33 years’