Severe Asthma ToolkitSevere Asthma Toolkit
HomeAboutSpecific PopulationsRegistriesContributorsContact
Twitter
  • What is Severe Asthma?
    • Overview
    • Definition
    • Prevalence & Burden
    • Pathophysiology
    • Symptoms
    • Severe Asthma Attacks / Exacerbations / Flare-ups
    • Asthma Phenotypes
  • Diagnosis & Assessment
    • Overview
    • Diagnosis Overview
    • Assessment Overview
    • Lung Function Assessments
    • Questionnaires
    • Allergy Assessments
    • Phenotyping
    • Bronchoscopy
    • Imaging
    • Occupational Asthma
  • Management
    • Overview
    • Asthma Education
      • About Severe Asthma
      • Asthma Pathophysiology
      • Medications Education
      • Self-Monitoring
      • Triggers
      • Review
    • Written Action Plans
    • Adherence
    • Inhaler Technique
    • Physical Activity & Exercise
    • Interdisciplinary Approach & Multidimensional Assessment
    • Referral
  • Medications
    • Overview
    • Relievers
    • Preventers / Controllers
    • Add-on Therapies
    • Monoclonal Antibodies
    • Bronchial Thermoplasty
  • Co-Morbidities
    • Overview
    • Pulmonary & Upper Airways
      • Allergic & Non-Allergic Rhinitis
      • Chronic Rhinosinusitis
      • Dysfunctional Breathing
      • Vocal Cord Dysfunction
      • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
      • Bronchiectasis
      • Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
    • Extra-Pulmonary
      • Obesity
      • Anxiety & Depression
      • Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)
      • Osteoporosis
      • Cardiovascular Disease & Metabolic Disease
  • Living with Severe Asthma
    • Overview
    • Daily Symptom Burden
    • Mental & Emotional Health
    • Intimacy & Relationships
    • Self-Management Support
    • Medication Use & Costs
    • Experience of Care
    • Experience of Asthma Attacks
    • Prognosis
  • Establishing a Clinic
    • Overview
    • Set-up
    • Staffing & Multidisciplinary Team Approach
    • Facilities
    • Delivery Approach
    • Tailored Referrals
    • Evaluation
    • Opportunities for Training & Research
    • Barriers & Hurdles
  • Paediatrics
    • Overview
    • Management in Paediatrics
    • Assessment in Paediatrics
    • Alternative Diagnosis & Co-Morbidities in Paediatrics
    • Psychosocial Issues in Paediatrics
    • Medications in Paediatrics
    • Asthma in the Adolescent Population
  • Resources
    • Overview
    • Clinic Recommendations
    • Infographics
    • Asthma Assessment Resources
    • Systematic & Multidimensional Assessment Resources
      • Airway Components
      • Comorbidity Components
      • Risk Factor Components
    • Translation & Implementation
    • Case Studies
    • Presentations
    • Videos
    • Relevant Links
    • Key References

Intimacy & Relationships

Home Living with Severe Asthma Intimacy & Relationships
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 Associate Professor Lorraine Smith and Ms. Daniela Eassey, University of Sydney.

Intimacy and sexual function are important aspects of life. The World Health Organisation (WHO 2002) 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. 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 expression 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 (Scullion 2009).  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.

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.

Useful links:

  • Asthma UK – Sex and Relationships Information Page
  • Asthma UK – Sex and Relationship When You Have Severe Asthma
Previous
Next

Last Updated on September 27, 2022

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories

More results...

  • Overview
  • Daily Symptom Burden
  • Mental & Emotional Health
  • Intimacy & Relationships
  • Self-Management Support
  • Medication Use & Costs
  • Experience of Care
  • Experience of Asthma Attacks
  • Prognosis

We want to know who accesses the Severe Asthma Toolkit and how it is used. Please complete our survey.

Responses will inform the continued development of the Severe Asthma Toolkit and future translation and implementation activities. Any feedback you provide will be greatly appreciated.

Complete Survey

  • Website Terms of Use
  • Website Survey
© Copyright 2018    CRICOS Provider Number 00109J    The University of Newcastle, Australia