Sexuality of People with Spinal Cord Injury: Knowledge, Difficulties and Adaptation (original) (raw)
Related papers
Spinal Cord, 1990
Changes in different aspects of sexuality were investigated and related to overall quality of life and physical, psychological and social adjustment in 73 SCI subjects, who were sexually active both before and after injury. Items on sexual interest and satisfaction were treated as one composite variable, the SIS scale, measuring sexual adjustment after injury. Despite severe genital dysfunction, more than half of the subjects (57%) rated their sexual relations after injury as satisfying or at least rather satisfying. The majority continued having intercourse, although many of them more seldom than before, and about half experienced orgasm. Sexual adjustment after injury was closely and positively correlated to frequency of intercourse, willingness to experiment with alternative sexual expressions and young age at injury. Physical and social independence and a high mood level were further positive determinants of sexual adaptation after injury, whereas the neurological level and completeness of injury showed no significant correlation with sexuality. It is suggested that sexual information and counselling should be integrated in the total care of the SCI patient to reduce the negative effects on sexuality, caused by the lnJury.
A Primary Care Provider’s Guide to Sexual Health for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
The collaboration with individuals regarding their sexual health is an important component of patient-centered health care. However, talking about sexual health in primary care settings is an area not fully addressed as a result of time limitations, medical task prioritization, awareness or knowledge deficit, and discomfort with the topic of sexuality. A critical shift in professional focus from disease and medical illness to the promotion of health and wellness is a prerequisite to address sexual health in the primary care setting. This article provides guidance for practitioners in primary care settings who are caring for persons with spinal cord injury. Clinicians should seize the opportunity during the encounter to reframe the experience of disability as a social construct status, moving away from the narrow view of medical condition and “find it, fix it” to a broader understanding that provides increased access to care for sexual health and sexual pleasure.
Spinal Cord, 2022
STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative, semi-structured interview design. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify, from the perspective of people living with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), the primary psychosocial barriers and facilitators that impact on their sexual function and sexual satisfaction post-injury. SETTING: Community-dwelling sample of people with SCI in England, United Kingdom METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with twenty people with SCI (15 males; 5 females) were conducted using an 8-item interview schedule. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken of verbatim transcripts coded using Braun and Clarke's (2021) six phases of thematic analysis. RESULTS: Six inductive themes were generated, collectively describing the psychosocial barriers and facilitators impacting on sexual function and satisfaction post-SCI: (1) Internalising societal views and stigmatisation; (2) Diminished sexual confidence; (3) Navigating communication; (4) Managing relationship dynamics; (5) Lack of sexual support provision; and (6) Intervention development recommendations. CONCLUSION: Sexual function and satisfaction are highly challenging areas of rehabilitation for males and females living with SCI. Increased efforts are needed to educate others in society to overcome the negative stereotypical attitudes obstructing acceptance of sex despite disability. Countering sexual stigmatisation for people with SCI would facilitate growth in sexual confidence. Techniques to enhance interpersonal sexual communication and involve the partner/spouse in regaining mutual sexual satisfaction are foundational. The current study highlighted key outpatient-based recommendations for intervention development, clarifying primary targets for future SCI-focused sexual therapeutic work.
Sexual Matters of Couples with Spinal Cord Injury Attending a Sexual Health Clinic in Tehran, Iran
Background: Couples experiencing spinal cord injury (SCI) usually deal with altered sexual lives. Evaluation of the sexual satisfaction, intimacy, and partnership as well as sexual functioning of the couples with one SCI-affected partner is necessary. Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted on 28 couples (56 individuals) attending a sexual health clinic at the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (BASIR) affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Descriptive statistics were employed and data were expressed as frequencies. The chi-square test, the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and the Student t-test were employed to determine the differences between male and female subjects with SCI as well as their partners. To investigate marital-related outcomes, ENRICH marital satisfaction scale, marital adjustment scale, and the Bagarozzi intimacy questionnaire were used. In addition, female sexual function index (FSFI) and international index erectile function (IIEF), as well as sexual knowledge and attitude, sexual expression (SE), and the Larson sexual satisfaction questionnaires were employed to evaluate sexual-performance-related outcomes.
Sexuality and Disability, 2020
Research examining the effects of spinal cord injury on sexuality has largely focused on physiological functioning and quantification of dysfunction following injury. This paper reports a systematic review of qualitative research that focused on the views and experiences of people with spinal cord injury on sex and relationships. The review addressed the following research question: What are the views and experiences of people with spinal cord injury of sex, sexuality and relationships following injury? Five databases were relevant and employed in the review: CINAHL (1989–2016 only), PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, for research published between 1 January 1980 and 30 November 2019. After removing duplicates, 257 records remained and were screened using a two-stage approach to inclusion and quality appraisal. Following screening, 27 met the criteria for inclusion and are reported in the paper. The review includes studies from fifteen countries across five continents. Tw...
Sexuality, Identity and Women with Spinal Cord Injury
Sexuality and Disability, 2011
Sexuality is an integral component of every individual's identity. The literature offers limited information about the sexuality and sexual identity of women with spinal cord injury (SCI), beyond the physiological and neurological aspects. The qualitative study described in this paper aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of a small sample of adult women with SCI regarding their sexuality post-injury. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four women, which were audio-taped and then transcribed. Thematic analysis was adopted for analyzing the narrative data. Themes that were identified include: factors facilitating positive sexual adjustment, barriers to sexuality post-injury and lack of sexual education in the rehabilitation process. Women with SCI echoed the need to be recognized as sexual beings, despite disability. Health professionals must be willing to discuss issues of a sexual nature and need an understanding of how illness or disability may impact on sexuality, in order to adequately assist individuals with physical disabilities address sexual and intimacy issues.
Supporting sexual adjustment from the perspective of men living with spinal cord injury
Study design Descriptive phenomenological approach. Objectives This study explored the lived experience of sexuality for men after spinal cord injury (SCI) and described the current state of tools and resources available to assist with sexual adjustment from the perspective of men living with SCI. Setting Men living in the community in Ontario, Canada. Methods Six men (age 24-49 years) with complete or incomplete SCI (C4-T12; <1-29 years post injury) participated in one individual, in-depth, standardized, open-ended interview (68-101 min). Analysis was conducted using Giorgi's method, and involved within case analysis followed by cross-case analysis. Results All participants reported that resources available to support sexual adjustment after SCI were inadequate, and the majority of men felt their healthcare providers lacked knowledge regarding, and comfort discussing sexuality after SCI. Men reported sexuality was not a priority of the rehabilitation centers and felt that healthcare providers did not understand the importance of addressing sexuality. Existing resources were described as too clinical and not necessarily relevant given changes in sensation and mobility post injury. Participants provided recommendations for the effective delivery of relevant sexual education information. Conclusions To improve quality of life for men after SCI, suitable resources must be available to support sexual rehabilitation post injury. Future research should focus on developing strategies to facilitate discussions about sexuality between individuals with SCI and healthcare providers, and on developing resources that are effective and relevant for these men.
Spinal Cord Injured Women's Views of Sexuality: A Norwegian Survey
Rehabilitation Nursing, 2003
The purpose of this study was to learn the views of women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) about their sexual life 1 or more years after the trauma. Based on a descriptive survey design, data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire completed by 48 women. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results show that most of the respondents had been injured I0 or more years. More than 50% were sexually active before the trauma. Fifty percent of the respondents reported that their views on sexuality had not changed as a result of the trauma. Twenty-one percent reported that sexuality was less important to them after the trauma. There is a need for studies of possible nursing interventions that will influence SCI women to recognize both their need for; and their right to, a satisfactory sexual life.
Sexual rehabilitation in women with spinal cord injury: A critical review of the literature
2010
Study design: Review article. Objectives: Critical review of literature on the multiple aspects of sexual rehabilitation in women with spinal cord injury (SCI) from initial recovery to long-term follow-up. Setting: Neuro-urology Department. Methods: Studies on sexuality selected from PubMed from 1993 to 2009. Results: Literature supported by significant statistical analyses reports that females with complete tetraglegia deserved special attention immediately at initial recovery; sexual intercourse is much more difficult for them (as compared with other women with SCI) mainly because of autonomic dysreflexia and urinary incontinence. There are sparse data on predictable factors favoring sexual rehabilitation such as the age SCI was incurred, the importance of one's sexual orientation, and the SCI etiology. Information after initial discharge is based chiefly on questionnaires, which report that as more time passes since the injury, patients attain more sexual satisfaction compared with recently injured women. Studies on neurological changes after SCI, and their effect on sexual response, are supported by a significant statistical analysis, but with few SCI patients. One topic reported the effect of sildenafil on sexuality, without benefit. No paper offers any detailed analysis on the sexual impact of medical and psychological treatments related to SCI. Literature reports that some co-morbidities are more prevalent in women with SCI compared with able-bodied women but data on sexual functioning are missing. Conclusion: To improve sexual rehabilitation services, sexual issues and response require evaluation during periodical check-ups using validated questionnaires administered by a physician 'guide' who coordinates professional operators thus providing personalized programmable interventions.
Sexual concerns after Spinal Cord Injury: An update on management
NeuroRehabilitation, 2017
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) causes neurological impairment with resultant neurogenic sexual dysfunction which can compound preexisting psychological and medical sexual concerns. Understanding these concerns is important in managing the lifelong needs of persons with SCIs. To provide an overview of the impact of SCI on sexuality along with a framework for treatment of sexual concerns. To briefly review male infertility and its treatments and pregnancy in females after SCI. Interdisciplinary literature review and synthesis of information. The average age at SCI is increased, thus persons with SCIs may have preexisting sexual concerns. Sexual activity and satisfaction are decreased after SCI. Psychogenic sexual arousal is related to remaining sensation in the T11-L2 dermatomes. Orgasm occurs in approximately 50% of persons with SCIs with all injuries except subjects with complete lower motor neuron (LMN) injuries affecting the lowest sacral segments A structured approach to treatment incl...