Spinal cord injury and sex

Sexual enjoyment is possible after a spinal cord injury SCI. All it takes is preparation and a little exploration. Far from it. You can have a healthy and fulfilling sex life. All it takes is attention to a few practical matters. Then you can begin to explore new sensations and greater opportunities for sexual enjoyment.

English PDF. Your sexuality is what guides your natural desire to bond with others through love, affection, and intimacy. Here are a few ways you might express your sexuality. Loss of muscle movement, sense of touch, and sexual reflexes often occurs after spinal cord injury SCI. How this loss effects arousal, orgasm, and fertility depends on your level of injury and whether your injury is complete or incomplete. You may not have a strong desire for sex when first injured, but your desire will likely increase over time as you learn to manage self-care and understand your body after injury.

Sexual identity is a significant and encompassing aspect of one's personality — sexuality plays an essential role in how we feel about ourselves, how we relate to others, how others relate to us. To be sure, paralysis often impacts people's sexuality, including changes in physical functioning, sensation and response. Self-image can be shaken.

The physical act of intercourse is not all that defines your sexuality. When we talk about sexuality, we mean more than what goes on behind your bedroom doors. Sexuality is the intimacy between you and your partner, your preferences, your body image and desires. The definition above is not usually what most people think of when they think of sex.