Article

Cross-sectional, mail-back questionnaire study. OBJECTIVES: To
describe women's experiences of sexual functioning and sex life after spinal cord
injury (SCI). SETTING: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. METHODS:
All community-living SCI women treated at spinal cord centres in Sweden, Denmark,
Norway, Finland, and Iceland meeting inclusion criteria (n = 963) were mailed the
study-specific SCI Women Questionnaire. Out of the 532 respondents, 392 reported
having had sex after injury and were thus included in the study. The included
women had a mean age of 42 years (range 18-68) and a mean time since injury of 11
years (range 2-54). RESULTS: The SCI women reported that the injury caused many
changes in their sex life and affected many aspects of their sexuality
negatively. Some changes were of a physical nature (for example, decreased, lost,
or changed sensation; difficulties to achieve orgasm; bladder or bowel problems;
and difficulties to move and position oneself) whereas other changes were of a
psychological nature (for example, feeling unattractive or less attractive,
having less self-confidence, and difficulties to meet or find a partner).
CONCLUSION: Successful SCI rehabilitation requires a holistic approach, taking
into account the patient's physical, psychological, and interpersonal
circumstances. Given that many women with SCI remain sexually active but often
experience less satisfaction after injury, it is important that rehabilitation
efforts address this aspect of the patient's life. Our results elucidating
strategies applied by women with SCI to compensate for loss of genital sensation
and cope with physiological impairment during sexual activity may serve to help
professionals in developing rehabilitation programmes for women with SCI.

Langue : ANGLAIS