Sexuality after spinal cord injury

Sexuality after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury often causes sexual dysfunction. But many people with SCI are able to have satisfying sex lives. The ability to experience sexual pleasure and orgasm are among the top priorities for sexual rehabilitation among injured people. Sexual function has a profound impact on self-esteem and adjustment to life.

About Sexuality after spinal cord injury in brief

Summary Sexuality after spinal cord injurySpinal cord injury often causes sexual dysfunction. But many people with SCI are able to have satisfying sex lives. Sexuality is an important part of each person’s identity. The ability to experience sexual pleasure and orgasm are among the top priorities for sexual rehabilitation among injured people. Sexual function has a profound impact on self-esteem and adjustment to life post-injury. People with SCi employ a variety of adaptations to help carry on their sex lives healthily, by focusing on different areas of the body and types of sexual acts. Drugs, devices, surgery, and other interventions exist to help men achieve erection and ejaculation. Although male fertility is reduced, many men withSCI can still father children, particularly with medical interventions. Studies have found that up to 65% men with SC I have orgasms, although the sensation may feel different than it did before the injury. Most men say the injury feels weaker, and it takes longer and more than a year to achieve orgasm. Some women report the sensation of orgasm to be the same as before the accident. According to the American Spinal Injury Association, around half of women are able. to reach orgasm, usually when their genitals are stimulated. Some people report the sensations of orgasm are the same before the incident, and others say the sensation is the same after the injury, but it takes a longer time to achieve.

The severity of the injury is also an important aspect in determining how much sexual function returns as a person recovers from a person’s SCI injury. For more information, visit the Spinal Cord Injury Association’s website or go to: http://www.spinalcordinjuryassociation.org.uk/sexual-function-rehabilitation-for-spinal-cord-injured-people-and-women-with-SCI-are-among-the-top-priorities-to-be-taken-on-by-caregivers-in-sexual- rehabilitation. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch, or click here for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit http:// www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. In the UK, call the NSPCC on 0800-9255. The Samaritans can be found on 0845 90 90 or visit the Samaritans in the UK or the Local Samaritans, see www.samaritans.org, or click here for more information. Sexual function is a very important aspect of life. It involves not only sexual behaviors but relationships, self-image, sex drive, reproduction, sexual orientation, and gender expression. In fact, most paraplegics rated sexual function as their top priority, and most tetraplegics rated it second, after hand and arm function. Rehabilitation for children and adolescents aims to promote healthy development of sexuality.