These feelings, and in particular sexual interaction with intimate partners, can be especially challenging for patients with chronic disease. VHL patients are not unlike other people with chronic illness, and may have normal feelings about upset about sexual feelings and behavior. In some instances sexual dysfunction may develop, requiring professional intervention. Sex therapists like to say that human sexuality is a sexual interaction, a behavioral interaction, and an emotional and interpersonal interaction.
Some people even consider sexuality to be a spiritual interaction.
Anything that affects us in any of these realms will influence sexual function. Chronic illness can affect each of these realms through changes in our body image, interaction with our spouse or life partner, feelings of despair or depression, and for some people chronic illness can have a spiritual aspect to it. Yes, that's very common in people with chronic illness. Especially chronic pain can interfere with sexual function. Pain can directly interfere with the neurological pathways involved in sexuality and more importantly chronic pain can be extremely fatiguing and distressing, which interferes with human sexual desire.