Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury

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...

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Main Authors: Tatana Sramkova, MD, PhD, Katerina Skrivanova, PhD, Igor Dolan, MD, Libor Zamecnik, MD, PhD, Katerina Sramkova, MD, Jiri Kriz, MD, Vladimir Muzik, MD, Radmila Fajtova, MSc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2017-12-01
Series:Sexual Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116117300582
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author Tatana Sramkova, MD, PhD
Katerina Skrivanova, PhD
Igor Dolan, MD
Libor Zamecnik, MD, PhD
Katerina Sramkova, MD
Jiri Kriz, MD
Vladimir Muzik, MD
Radmila Fajtova, MSc
author_facet Tatana Sramkova, MD, PhD
Katerina Skrivanova, PhD
Igor Dolan, MD
Libor Zamecnik, MD, PhD
Katerina Sramkova, MD
Jiri Kriz, MD
Vladimir Muzik, MD
Radmila Fajtova, MSc
author_sort Tatana Sramkova, MD, PhD
collection DOAJ
description 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. Sramkova T, Skrivanova K, Dolan I, et al. Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury. Sex Med 2017;5:e255–e259.
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spelling doaj.art-bc717f9375b142d6a74ced9632ee1cde2023-09-02T23:13:28ZengOxford University PressSexual Medicine2050-11612017-12-0154e255e25910.1016/j.esxm.2017.07.003Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord InjuryTatana Sramkova, MD, PhD0Katerina Skrivanova, PhD1Igor Dolan, MD2Libor Zamecnik, MD, PhD3Katerina Sramkova, MD4Jiri Kriz, MD5Vladimir Muzik, MD6Radmila Fajtova, MSc7Institute of Sexology and Department of Urology, General University Hospital, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Clinical Psychology of Faculty Hospital Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Urology, St Anna Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicInstitute of Sexology and Department of Urology, General University Hospital, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Urology, St Anna Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicSpinal Unit of Department of Rehabilitation Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicSpinal Unit of Department of Surgery Faculty Hospital, Masaryk University Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicSpinal Unit of Department of Surgery Faculty Hospital, Masaryk University Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicIntroduction: 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. Sramkova T, Skrivanova K, Dolan I, et al. Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury. Sex Med 2017;5:e255–e259.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116117300582Spinal Cord InjuryWomenArousalVaginal LubricationOrgasmSatisfaction
spellingShingle Tatana Sramkova, MD, PhD
Katerina Skrivanova, PhD
Igor Dolan, MD
Libor Zamecnik, MD, PhD
Katerina Sramkova, MD
Jiri Kriz, MD
Vladimir Muzik, MD
Radmila Fajtova, MSc
Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury
Sexual Medicine
Spinal Cord Injury
Women
Arousal
Vaginal Lubrication
Orgasm
Satisfaction
title Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury
title_full Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury
title_fullStr Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury
title_full_unstemmed Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury
title_short Women's Sex Life After Spinal Cord Injury
title_sort women s sex life after spinal cord injury
topic Spinal Cord Injury
Women
Arousal
Vaginal Lubrication
Orgasm
Satisfaction
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116117300582
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