Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury

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Abstract
Introduction: After spinal cord injury (SCI), individuals are typically considered by the general public to be asexual. Handicapped women have more problems with socio-sexual adaptation, stemming from low self-confidence, low self-esteem, and the absence of spontaneity. Aims: To determine changes in the sexual lives of women after SCI. Methods: A self-constructed questionnaire was used to map sexual function after SCI. We retrospectively compared sexual function in 30 women with SCI with that in 30 without SCI who led an active sexual life. Descriptive and inductive statistics were applied using the Student paired and non-paired t-tests and the Levene test. Main Outcome Measures: The main variables were presence vs absence of sexual dysfunction in a group of women after SCI and a comparison of the incidence of sexual dysfunctions in women after SCI with that of a control group. Results: A significant difference was ascertained in women with SCI in sexual desire (P < .001), lubrication (P < .001), and reaching orgasm before and after injury (P = .030). A comparison of the two groups showed a significant difference in the realization of coital sexual activity (P < .001), erotogenous zones of the mouth (P = .016), nipples (P = .022), and genitals (P < .001), and in the ability to reach orgasm (P = .033). The negative impact of incontinence on the sexual life of women with SCI proved significant (P < .001). Negative factors for sexual activity in women with SCI were lower sensitivity in 16 (53%), spasms and mobility problems in 12 (40%), lower desire in 11 (36%), pain in 4 (13%), and a less accommodating partner in 3 (10%). Conclusion: Intercourse was the preferred sexual activity in women with SCI. Compared with the period before injury, there was significant lowering of sexual desire, impaired lubrication, and orgasmic ability after SCI. A comparison of the two groups showed a difference in erotogenous zones and in reaching orgasm.

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