Sexual activities, desire, and satisfaction in males pre- and post-spinal cord injury

Abstract

Thirty-eight spinal cord injured (SCI) males (median age = 26) completed an 80-item multiple choice questionnaire (median 37 months postinjury) which assessed sexual functioning pre- and post-spinal cord injury in four areas: (i) sexual activities and preferences, (ii) sexual abilities, (iii) sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction, and, (iv) sexual adjustment. Frequency of sexual activity decreased following SCI with a reduction in intercourse and increased interest in alternative sexual activities. Of complete quadriplegic subjects 38% reported the ability to have an orgasm accompanied by ejaculation underscoring the need for physiological studies. Partner's desire for sex as perceived by the SCI individual was correlated with frequency of sex and numbers of sexual partners postinjury. Subject's perceptions of their own and partner's sexual desire decreased following SCI. Sexual satisfaction decreased postinjury and was positively correlated with both the patients' and their partners' interest in penile-vaginal intercourse. Of the subjects, 27% reported sexual adjustment difficulties and 74% relationship difficulties but only 22% received counseling. Results indicate the importance of the availability and desire of a sexual partner in the sexual activities and satisfaction of the SCI individual. SCI patient and staff sexual education and counseling continue to be strong needs.

Incidence of Autonomic Dysreflexia and Silent Autonomic Dysreflexia in Men With Spinal Cord Injury Undergoing Sperm Retrieval: Implications for Clinical Practice

“…Her study showed sexual function as the number-one priority for individuals with paraplegia and the number-two priority for individuals with tetraplegia. Other previous studies are congruent with these findings and continually stress the importance of sexual adjustment after SCI (19)(20)(21). Clinically, we have encountered many persons with SCI who were experiencing AD with sexual activity, and this was impacting their sexual adjustment.…”

Discussing sexual health in spinal care

“…Not only physical constraints, but also emotional distress as well as other psychological factors have the potential to change the perception of sexuality in the spinal cord injured [10,11]. Alexander et al reported an incidence of 74 % of relationship difficulties concerning sexual health after spinal cord injury in men [12]. In the last few years, new studies have emerged on sexual health in spinal cord injured women, eliciting the pathophysiology and complicated features of sexual dysfunction (SD) in women with spinal cord injury, and even more general in neurological disease [13][14][15][16].…”

Sexual activity and sexual satisfaction in Korean men with spinal cord injury

“…2,3 However, despite this impact, the sexual activity of individuals with SCI has largely been neglected as a focus of research and is one of the most unmet needs for this group of individuals. 4,5 In particular, although the sexual activity and coping strategies of people with SCI will likely be diverse across cultures because of cultural differences, 6,7 little research has been published regarding the sexuality of individuals with SCI, particularly in East Asia. In one of the few studies addressing this issue for an Asian population, a comparative investigation of the life satisfaction between long-term survivors of SCI in Sweden and Japan found that the percentage of sexually active (SA) males engaged in sexual intercourse was significantly lower in Japan than in Sweden, and also observed an absence of sexual counseling for disabled people in the former country.…”