Preparing for changes in sexual relationships before ostomy surgery may help you navigate the transition with greater ease and maintain intimacy in your relationships.
Make your circumstances known to your healthcare provider
If you have concerns about the impact your ostomy surgery will have on your sexual activity, try to initiate an open and honest conversation with your healthcare provider. If you are open about your sexuality or sexual preferences, this may be something they naturally discuss with you, but if not, you may have to directly ask for the information you want. Only then, will they be able to provide the best personalized advice and guidance based on your specific needs.
Arm yourself with knowledge
Ensuring you are best informed is always a key step in preparing for change, so if you are reading this, you are already on the right track. Take the time to educate yourself (and your partner) about your ostomy its purpose, and how to care for it. Understanding its function and any limitations it may impose on your sex-life or relationships can help alleviate concerns and may enable you to further open up communication about intimacy with your partner(s).
Where can I learn more?
You can start your self-education about your ostomy by:
- Speaking to your surgeon, ostomy nurse, or other healthcare providers involved in your care. They can provide detailed information about the surgical procedure, the purpose of the stoma, and its impact on your daily life and intimacy.
- Exploring Coloplast Care’s online library of articles and calling a Coloplast Care Advisor.
- Attending ostomy education classes or workshops – Some hospitals or medical centers offer educational classes or workshops specifically designed for individuals undergoing ostomy surgery. Various topics may be covered, including caring for your ostomy types of product, and adapting to this life change, which may indirectly address intimacy-related concerns.
- Joining online support groups – here you may find valuable insights and experiences from individuals who have gone through similar surgeries. Participating in these communities may allow you to ask questions, seek advice, and get first-hand accounts of how others have overcome intimacy challenges after their stoma surgery.
Strengthen your relationship with your partner
If you are in a relationship at the time of your surgery, strengthening your emotional bond and physical connection before the surgery can help smooth the transition to living with an ostomy. Spending quality time together, having open and meaningful conversations, and being physically there for one another, you and your partner may be able to alleviate some of the relationship-worries that come with having an ostomy. By engaging in activities that foster intimacy, you can better tackle these challenges productively, together. You may then be able to better maintain a sense of closeness and prepare for any physical changes that may occur post-surgery.
Reach out to others
You may also wish to consider investigating support groups for individuals with ostomies and their partners or attend couples counselling. These places can provide a safe space to share experiences, gain insights from others who have gone through similar situations and receive guidance on maintaining intimacy during and after the surgery.
If you want to know more about how to overcome common challenges when being intimate with a partner while living with an ostomy, click the link below.
Key takeaways:
- Researching and talking to others about how your surgery may impact your sex-life and intimate relationships can help you to mentally prepare for your stoma and help to reduce concerns
- You can learn more about your ostomy:
o Reaching out to your healthcare provider
o Exploring Coloplast Care’s online library of resources
o Attending workshops or classes for people living with an ostomy
o Joining support groups
- Investing time in your relationship can allow you to tackle these challenges together with your partner and help to reduce worries about what your stoma may mean for intimacy and sex moving forward
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted to contain treatment recommendations. You should rely on the healthcare professional who knows your individual history for personal medical advice and diagnosis.
Call your healthcare provider if you have any medical concerns about managing your ostomy. You may also contact your Coloplast® Care Advisor for product usage and availability questions at 1-877-858-2656.
