Whether you take part in celebrating Valentine’s Day or not, it has become a significant cultural and commercial event in Australia.
This day can still serve as a meaningful reminder of the importance of intimacy and connection. This is true for everyone, including people living with MND and their partners.
For many people, intimate and sexual relationships play an important role in quality of life, emotional wellbeing and sense of self. Our relationships with partners can provide comfort, reassurance, and connection, particularly in times of significant change.
Sex, Intimacy, and MND
MND itself does not directly impact sensation, arousal, sexual function, or fertility. Maintaining an intimate or sexual relationship can become more complex when living with MND. Physical changes such as weakness, respiratory problems, fatigue, pain, or issues with mobility can affect how intimacy looks.
Despite how common these challenges are, sex and intimacy are topics that are often left unspoken in healthcare settings. Many people feel uncomfortable and unsure about how to raise the subject or assume it’s not important enough to mention.
That’s why we are sharing information and resources about understanding how MND impacts relationship, exploring options for support, and finding gentle conversation starters if you’re not sure where to begin.
Practical Support: Who can help?
Many professionals in your multidisciplinary care team can help people living with MND navigate changes to intimacy and sex.
- Neurologists and GPs can provide referrals and discuss, physical changes, pain and medication side effects
- Occupational therapists can provided information about positioning, equipment, and maintaining independence
- Physiotherapists can help manage positioning and strategies to support coughing and breathing
- Psychologist, social workers, and counsellors can provide a safe space to talk about emotional intimacy, body image, communication with your partner, and navigate relationship changes
- Palliative care teams help manage symptoms, reduce distress, and improve quality of life throughout the journey of living with MND
Talking to health professionals
It is common to feel unsure about raising sex and intimacy in a healthcare environment. Choosing a health professional that you feel comfortable with is a good first step.
Some gentle ways to start the conversation might include:
- ‘Do other people with MND find that…?’
- ‘I feel a bit awkward asking this, but I’d like to discuss how MND is affecting intimacy…’
- ‘Are there support or referrals available for sexual or relationship concerns?’
Starting the conversation with loved ones
Talking about intimacy can feel awkward, especially when things have changed. How a diagnosis of MND impacts sexuality and intimate relationships is different for each person. For some people sex becomes more important after diagnosis. For others it is less important.
Some gentle ways to start the conversation might include:
- ‘I still really value closeness with you, but I’m not sure how to talk about what’s changed…’
- ‘Can we check in about intimacy and what feels comfortable for both of us right now?’
- ‘Can we explore new ways to connect?’
As MND progresses, sex and intimacy can be an important source of closeness and comfort. Wherever you are in the journey, be willing to plan ahead, try new things, and find support when necessary.
Learn more:
- Intimacy & Motor Neurone Disease | MND Australia
- Sex and relationships (MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland)