Severe asthma can have a negative impact on personal relationships. Individuals with severe asthma often express feelings of guilt of being burdensome to their loved ones. Intimate and sexual relationships may suffer under the stress of living with severe asthma.
“can’t do certain things, you can’t have sex some nights…I don’t feel up for it”
Video provided by Professor Lorraine Smith and Dr Daniela Eassey, University of Sydney
Intimacy and sexual function are important aspects of life. The World Health Organisation states that irrespective of disease or disability, being able to achieve good quality, adequate sexual function and sexual quality of life is a basic human right (WHO 2025). The definition of sexuality encompasses not just the physical act of intercourse but also the complex manifestation and accumulation of appearance, emotional connection, relationships, personal intimacy and pression and identity.
Health care professionals (HCPs) often have perceptions of chronically ill participants as being non-sexual and often assume that due to physical restrictions they are unable or unwilling to participate in sexual-related activity (Holmes et al, 2019). This is in contrast to the views of those with asthma. In a survey-based study, people with asthma rated sexual activity as the third most important activity to them, out of 19 listed activities (Meyer et al. 2002). In the same survey, 58% of participants indicated limitations in sexual functioning due to their asthma (Meyer et al. 2002). Yet, sexual dysfunction remains a taboo topic.
Intimacy and sexual health is infrequently captured in patient reported measures or questionnaires in asthma, despite patients reporting it being an important aspect of life. This highlights the need to develop such tools and capture the impact on sex and intimacy for people living with severe asthma (Majellano, et al. 2024 & Holmes et al, 2019).
Key physical limitations:
- Stress of a potential asthma attack when being sexually active
- Positioning difficulties
- Fatigue in the person with asthma
- Presence and use of medical equipment during intimacy
- Potential need for medical intervention and subsequent explanation to health professionals
Key personal limitations:
- Unconscious pressure to participate in sexual activity by self or partner
- Low self-esteem and guilt as a consequence of reduced sexual activity
How to support individuals with severe asthma:
- Incorporate intimacy and sexual relationships into discussions about spirituality, relationships and other social components, physical aspects and emotional aspects of living with severe asthma.
- Suggest energy conservation strategies such as being mindful of room temperature, the time of day, comfort, position and support from the partner.
- Referral to sexual/relational therapist, as necessary.
