Two Leading "Killers" of A Healthy, Happy Sex Life

Interstitial cystitis and erectile dysfunction are the two leading "killers" of a healthy, happy sex life in Taiwan, medical groups.

Some 52-67 of every 100,000 women in Taiwan have suffered interstitial cystitis (IC), or painful bladder syndrome (PBS), according to the Women’s Healthcare and Urology Foundation of Taiwan. IC is characterized by an urgent or frequent need to urinate and is often accompanied by pelvic pain.

No one knows what causes IC/PBS, but some sufferers experience pain or other difficulties during intercourse, the foundation said. These symptoms often cause women to shun sex with their husbands, which in turn affects their marriage, it added.

IC/PBS is normally not caused by germs or infection, the foundation said, citing doctors. Rather, most researchers believe it represents a spectrum of disorders in the immune, endocrine or nervous systems, it said.

The foundation said IC/PBS is treatable. About 70 percent of sufferers usually feel better after receiving infusions of hyaluronic acid, which helps to relieve pain and the exhaustion that results from going to the bathroom all night, it said.