Maan Sexology

Getting intimate with your partner is an interest which is also known as libido. Its loss can affect both men and women to lose interest in sex. There are many causes for this including stress, chronic ailments, decline in the frequency of sexual activity, and even relationship problems. Let us look at ways in which one can deal with the loss of sexual interest in men.

Symptoms: To begin with, let us understand the tell-tale signs that point to the loss of sexual interest in men. Usually, this condition is characterised by the lack of connection or emotion with the sexual partner or the act, not being able to look forward to enjoying a session with your loved one, having sex only once or twice in a month, not being an initiator any longer, and almost never having fantasies or sexual thoughts.

Causes: There are many causes behind this condition ranging from erectile dysfunction to performance anxiety, to stress and medical conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that can lead to a decline of sexual interest in men. Depression is also one of the causes.

Medical Intervention: To begin with, the very first thing that one must do if the lack of sexual interest persists is to visit a doctor so as to have the problem checked thoroughly. Also, one can visit a psychiatrist or a sexologist in order to address any stress related reasons for the lack of interest. Couples counselling and sex therapy can help in understanding the root cause and realigning the brain with the help of discussions and various exercises that can heal and activate. Also, medication for the condition may be prescribed in case the underlying cause has to do with a medical ailment like premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.

Imagination: One of the greatest tools that can help in activating sexual interest is imagination. When you imagine you and your partner entwined in various sexual scenarios, you may be more open to the idea of trying those scenes out.

Focus on the Body: Any good sex therapist will tell you that focussing on the whole body rather than the intimate body parts will help in a slow yet steady build-up of stimulation that can culminate into a satisfactory intercourse and orgasm, thereafter.

Planning: Building anticipation is the key to bringing back some excitement in an area that you had considered dormant, with certain shared experiences and activities so that it can graduate to attraction, excitement and then sexual peak.
The use of various toys, medicines like anti-depressants and therapy can go a long way in bringing back your lost libido.

HIV testing in pregnancy should be done early so as standard care can be taken for the pregnant women. The HIV testing must be repeated in the third trimester, usually before 36 weeks of gestation. This should be done in women with HIV seronegative and also in pregnant women who are at a high risk of developing HIV infection.

Expedited HIV tests should be performed at the time of delivery and labor and this is a must in women who have not been documented for HIV. The results of the test should be available within an hour of the test and the testing should be available 24 hours. In case the results are positive then, infant postnatal antiretroviral and intrapartum drug prophylaxis should be started immediately.

Women who have not been able to get tested for HIV at the time of labor and delivery are suggested expedited screening for HIV. Their screening can be done immediately postpartum or their babies should undergo screening. In case the infant and mother, both are positive, then infant antiretroviral drug prophylaxis should be started immediately. These mothers should avoid breastfeeding their babies, until the supplemental HIV tests are negative. In infants with positive HIV, prophylaxis should be discontinued and antiretroviral drug therapy should be started. 

In case of acute HIV infection during pregnancy, that is in the intrapartum period, or during breastfeeding, initial testing can be performed with an antigen/antibody combination immunoassay. If the supplemental test is negative, then an additional test which is the virologic test (DNA, RNA) are necessary for the diagnosis of the HIV infection. If the mother is HIV positive, then this information must be documented in the infant's medical record and also communicated to the infant's care provider.

The knowledge of an antenatal maternal HIV infection allows the:

1. Women with HIV infection to get the correct antiretroviral therapy along with prophylaxis for the infections, which might occur due to the immunocompromised state of the body. This also prevents and decreases the risk of transmission to their partners.
2. When there is provision for antiretroviral therapy for the mother during pregnancy and labor along with antiretroviral drug prophylaxis for the baby there is less risk of perinatal transmission of the HIV.
3. The HIV-infected women should be counseled for a cesarean delivery. The option of an elective cesarean reduces the perinatal transmission of the HIV.
4. The HIV women should be counseled about the risk of breastfeeding. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.