Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Sexuality and Women with Spinal Cord Injury

  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Women with spinal cord injury (SCI) have unique concerns and problems related to their sexuality. The purpose of this study is to assess sexual issues in women with SCI, for better management and rehabilitation of such patients. Consequently, 40 such women were interviewed based on a standardized questionnaire. Evaluation of sexual activity, medical problems most significantly interfering with sexual activity, menstruation, pregnancy, child bearing and relationships was done. Interest in sex and importance of sex in lives did not change significantly after SCI. The key concerns after SCI were sexual, bladder and bowel dysfunctions, bed sores, pain, spasticity and satisfaction of partner and cultural taboos. Only, 30% women had received information on sexual matters, that too to isolated problems. There is a distinctive need for clinical attention, education, research and development around gynaecological/reproductive, sexual and urogenital issues unique to women with SCI in India.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ML Sipski CJ Alexander CR Rosen (1995) ArticleTitlePhysiological parameters associated with psychogenic sexual arousal in women with complete spinal cord injuries Arch Phys Med Rehabil 76 811–818

    Google Scholar 

  • W Pentland J Walker P Minnes M Tremblay B Brouwer N Gould (2002) ArticleTitleWomen with spinal cord injury and impact of aging Spinal Cord 40 374–387

    Google Scholar 

  • A Siosteen C Lundquist C Blomstrand L Sullivan M Sullivan (1990) ArticleTitleSexual ability, activity, attitudes and satisfaction as part of adjustment in spinal cord injured subjects Paraplegia 28 285–295

    Google Scholar 

  • MJ White DH Rintala KA Hart ME Young MJ Fuhrer (1992) ArticleTitleSexual activities, concern and interests of men with spinal cord injury Am J Phys Med Rehabil 71 1225–1231

    Google Scholar 

  • CJ Alexander ML Sipski TW Findley (1993) ArticleTitleSexual activities desire and satisfaction in males pre and post spinal cord injury Arch Sexual Behav 22 217–228

    Google Scholar 

  • SJ Axel (1982) ArticleTitleSpinal cord injured women’s concern: menstruation and pregnancy Rehabil Nurs 7 IssueID5 10–15

    Google Scholar 

  • J Zwerner (1982) ArticleTitleYes we have troubles but nobody’s listening: sexual issues of women with SCI Sex Disabil 5 158–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadensen LC: Motherhood, pregnancy, and spinal cord injury. Paraplegia News October: 1990.

  • SW Charlifue KA Gerhart RR Menter CG Whitenack MJ Manley (1992) ArticleTitleSexual issues of women with spinal cord injuries Paraplegia 30 192–199

    Google Scholar 

  • N Westgren C Hultling R Levi A Seiger M Westgren (1997) ArticleTitleSexuality in women with traumatic spinal cord injury Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 76 977–983

    Google Scholar 

  • MJ White DH Rintala KA Hart MJ Fuhrer (1993) ArticleTitleSexual activities, concern and interests of women with spinal cord injury living in the community Am J Phys Med Rehabil 72 372–378

    Google Scholar 

  • TSS Rao (2002) ArticleTitleSexual practice: the Indian context Andhra Pradesh J Psych Med 6 IssueID1 45–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Nag M: Sexual behaviour in India with risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. Health Transition Rev 5(Suppl.):293–305.

  • S Labovitz (1970) ArticleTitleAssignment of number to rank order categories Am Soc Rev 35 515–524

    Google Scholar 

  • K Lesh C Marshall (1984) ArticleTitleRehabilitation: focus on disabled women as a population J Appl Rehabil Counsel 15 18–21

    Google Scholar 

  • EB Harvey L Tepperman (1990) Selected socio-economic consequences of disability for women in Canada Ministry of Supply and Services Canada Ottawa 23–29

    Google Scholar 

  • TM Cole (1975) ArticleTitleSexuality and physical disabilities Arch Sex Behav 4 IssueID4 389–403

    Google Scholar 

  • MD Romano (1978) ArticleTitleSexuality and the disabled female Sex Disabil 1 IssueID1 227–233

    Google Scholar 

  • R Turk M Turk V Assejeu (1983) ArticleTitleThe female paraplegic and mother–-child relations Paraplegia 21 186–191

    Google Scholar 

  • C Ray B West (1984) ArticleTitleSocial, sexual and personal implications of paraplegia Paraplegia 22 75–86

    Google Scholar 

  • L Guttman (1976) Spinal Cord Injuries: Comprehensive Management and Research, 2nd edn Blackwell Scientific Publications Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • M Kreuter M Sullivan A Siosteen (1996) ArticleTitleSexual adjustment and quality of relationship in spinal paraplegia: a controlled study Arch Phys Med Rehabil 77 54–548

    Google Scholar 

  • MJ De Vivo PR Fine (1985) ArticleTitleSpinal cord injury: its short-term impact on marital status Arch Phys Med Rehabil 66 501–504

    Google Scholar 

  • JR Urey V Viar SW Henggeler (1987) ArticleTitlePredictor of marital adjustment among spinal cord injured persons Rehab Nurs 12 26–30

    Google Scholar 

  • JR Urey SW Henggeler (1987) ArticleTitleMarital adjustment following spinal cord injury Arch Phys Med Rehabil 68 69–74

    Google Scholar 

  • NM Crewe JS Krause (1988) ArticleTitleMarital relationship and spinal cord injury Arch Phys Med Rehabil 69 435–438

    Google Scholar 

  • M De Vivo JS Richards (1992) ArticleTitleCommunity reintegration and quality of life following spinal cord injury Int Med Soc Paraplegia 30 108–112

    Google Scholar 

  • M Kreuter (2000) ArticleTitleSpinal cord injury and partner relationships Spinal Cord 38 2–6

    Google Scholar 

  • MS Milligan AH Neufeldt (1998) ArticleTitlePost injury marriage to men with spinal cord injury: women’s perspectives on making a commitment Sex Disabiil 16 IssueID2 117–122

    Google Scholar 

  • ESS Berard (1989) ArticleTitleThe sexuality of spinal cord injured women, physiology and pathophysiology: a review Paraplegia 27 99–112

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roop Singh M. S..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, R., Sharma, S. Sexuality and Women with Spinal Cord Injury. Sex Disabil 23, 21–33 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-004-2077-5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-004-2077-5

Keywords

Navigation