Sexual Health and Kidney Transplant

Many people who experienced sexual problems while on dialysis will find improvement after a kidney transplant. Your new kidney will help you feel better and have more energy. This will help to make your sexual life more enjoyable. In fact, for most people, sexual function should return to normal, including being able to become pregnant or father a child.

It's possible that some things may not get better after a kidney transplant. You will also be at a higher risk for certain infections and may need to take extra precautions.

• You may still need to take blood pressure medicines. Some blood pressure medicines can affect your desire and ability to have sex. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are having problems. You may be able to change to a different blood pressure medicine that will have less effect on your sexual health.
• Anti-rejection medicines’ main job is to suppress your immune system, which means your body is less able to fight off infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You may need to be more careful than your partner and take extra steps to keep yourself safe. Talk to your doctor about your risk for STIs and ways to protect yourself.
• Anti-rejection medicines can also cause certain side effects such as weight gain, acne, bruising, and increased body hair. If a person feels less comfortable or attractive due to these changes, they may feel less interested in sex. Talk with your doctor about how to decrease the side effects.

Some patients and their partners may worry that sexual activity could harm the transplanted kidney. After receiving a transplant, it is important to wait until the scar has begun to heal. Once your doctor says it is all right to resume sexual activity, there is no reason to worry about damaging the transplanted kidney.

For some people, it doesn’t seem like having sex improves as much as they hoped. This can be because of other emotional and physical challenges related to dealing with kidney disease and dialysis.

Many people think that sexuality refers only to sexual intercourse. But sexuality includes many things, like touching, hugging, or kissing. It includes how you feel about yourself, how well you communicate, and how willing you are to be close to someone else.

Activities such as touching, hugging, and kissing provide feelings of warmth and closeness even if intercourse is not involved. Professional sex therapists can recommend alternative methods. Emotions can also affect sexual functioning, including stress, marriage problems, or depression.

If you are having sexual problems, talk to your healthcare professional. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek answers. Many of these problems can be treated.

• Will my sexual health improve after a kidney transplant?
• Are there some things that won’t improve?
• Who can I talk to about any questions or concerns I have after my transplant?

• Pregnancy, Fertility, and Babies after Kidney Transplant
• NKF Online Communities: A safe and supportive place where patients and caregivers can share experiences, ask questions, and get answers related to kidney health, kidney disease, transplantation and living organ donation. Participation is free and anonymous.
• NKF Peers: Talk to someone who’s been there – with kidney disease, transplant, or living donation.