Sexual rehabilitation of women with a spinal cord injury

Forsythe, Elizabeth; Horsewell, Jane

doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101844

Cited by 65 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…17,[20][21][22][23] Our study further revealed that these concerns are severe enough to prevent a considerable number of women from seeking sexual activity with a partner. It is possible that the fear of incontinence may contribute to psychological aspects of arousal as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Spinal cord injury influences psychogenic as well as physical components of female sexual ability

et al. 2006

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Study design: Secure, web-based survey. Objectives: Elicit specific information about sexual function from women with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Setting: World-wide web. Methods: Individuals 18 years or older living with SCI obtained a pass code to enter a secure website and then answered survey questions. Results: Bladder and/or bowel incontinence during sexual activity and/or sexual intercourse were significant concerns and prevented some women from seeking sexual activity. Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) during sexual activity was interpreted negatively by many and was found to interfere with sexual activity. Most subjects reported difficulty becoming psychologically aroused as well as physically aroused, which were both correlated with feeling that their SCI had altered their sexual sense of self. An inverse relationship existed between developing new areas of arousal above the level of lesion and not having sensation or movement below the lesion. The most commonly reported sexual stimulation leading to the best arousal involved stimulation of the head/neck and torso areas. The majority of subjects reported having experienced intercourse postinjury. Most participants reported difficulty with positioning during foreplay and intercourse, vaginal lubrication, and spasticity during intercourse. Almost half reported experiencing orgasm postinjury and this was positively associated with the presence of genital sensation. Conclusion: SCI significantly impairs psychological and physical aspects of female sexual arousal. In addition, bladder and bowel incontinence as well as AD negatively impact sexual activity and intercourse.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Spinal cord injury influences psychogenic as well as physical components of female sexual ability

et al. 2006

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“…9 Sexual function has also been recognized as an area that has not been sufficiently addressed 1 and most likely due to the sensitive nature of the subject.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multi-centre study of the community needs of people with spinal cord injuries: the first 18 months

et al. 2009

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Study design: Multi-centre, single cohort. Objectives: To assess the needs, perceived environmental barriers, level of participation and psychological function of spinal cord injured patients living in the community 3-18 months after discharge. Setting: The National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville, UK.; Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre, Sheffield UK.; Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries, Oswestry, UK. Method: Participants sustaining injury aged 18 or above were recruited from one of three spinal cord injuries units 3-18 months after discharge. Postal packs containing questionnaires, consent forms and information were distributed and a 2-week reminder was sent. Results: Main findings showed community needs to be generally well addressed however psychosocial needs were rated significantly lower than physical. Responses suggested no environmental impact on participation levels, however, qualitative data highlighted delays in accommodation, adaptations and availability of equipment to interfere with transition to community living. A substantial amount of respondents reported significant impact on independence and activity from secondary conditions and pain. Nearly all the sample reported dissatisfaction with their sexual life and these needs were not well addressed. Conclusions: Societal participation continues to be affected by secondary conditions and pain, whereas delays in equipment and structural adaptations impact on the transition to community living. Sexual needs and problems remain an issue for the spinal cord injured population and a need which is left unaddressed in the community.

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“…2,6 Most women with SCI would have liked more sexual counseling during rehabilitation. 14 Our study has shown that 42.31% of patients preferred to receive this information while still at the hospital for rehabilitation. Many women also mentioned that the information was not given too soon after the injury, but that they should be informed about whom they could talk to when the need arose.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual problems of women with spinal cord injury in Turkey

et al. 2014

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Objectives: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic event that affects many facets of the injured people's lives. One aspect is sexual functioning. The purpose of this study is to identify the sexual problems of women with SCI and determine their level of knowledge about sexuality. Methods: Twenty-six women with SCI for longer than 6 months were evaluated. Demographic information, sexual experiences were surveyed. Patients were also asked if and how they received sexual health consultation after SCI. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Beck Depression Inventory were evaluated. Results: In this study, average age of the women with SCI was 32.96±8.23 years (22-50 years). Eight patients had regular sexual intercourse while one married woman did not have any sexual relationship after SCI. Twenty-four of the patients in the study received no information about pregnancy or sexual health after SCI. All women were willing to receive information about sexuality after SCI. These patients expected the doctors to start the conversation about sexuality rather than asking about it. FSFI survey revealed that all the patients had sexual dysfunction. A long-term disability can have a profound impact on a woman's innate sense of sexuality, sexual function and, occasionally, fertility. Various myths about sexuality and disability in society, such as 'disabled women are asexual, only independently functioning women can handle a sexual relationship, disabled women cannot be mothers, disabled women who are single are celibate' , results in the sexual well-being of disabled women being neglected. [3][4][5] Comparatively little research on sexuality in the population with SCI focuses specifically on the sexual concerns of women. 2,3,5,6 However, in recent years there has been growing acknowledgement of the sexual concerns of women with SCI. Despite this, the conveyance of this knowledge to the women with SCI appears to be insufficient. 6 Previous research has shown that the majority of women with SCI are dissatisfied with the amount and the quality of information about sexual functioning and sex life provided at rehabilitation centers. 1 The purpose of this study is to identify the sexual problems of women with SCI and determine their level of knowledge about sexuality and their condition in our country.

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Sexual rehabilitation of women with a spinal cord injury

Cited by 65 publications

References 38 publications

Spinal cord injury influences psychogenic as well as physical components of female sexual ability

Spinal cord injury influences psychogenic as well as physical components of female sexual ability

A multi-centre study of the community needs of people with spinal cord injuries: the first 18 months

Sexual problems of women with spinal cord injury in Turkey

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