Sexual and Reproductive Health in Women With SCI

Sexual function and reproductive health may be disrupted in women following a spinal cord injury (SCI); however, many women after SCI still report sexual pleasure, desire, and satisfaction (Courtois et al. 2012; Biering-Sorenson et al. 2012). In addition, SCI does not typically affect a woman’s long-term fertility or the ability to be pregnant; a large study from the Netherlands reports that 45% of women with SCI become mothers after their injury (van den Borne, 2018). Multiple studies on the health and life priorities of people with SCI report that sexual function is considered among their top priorities, along with bowel/bladder function, and hand/arm function for those with tetraplegia (Anderson et al. 2004; Bloemen-Vrencken et al. 2005).

For many years the sexual and reproductive health of women with SCI was studied to a much lesser degree than male sexual health (e.g., achievement of erection, ejaculation), consequently the evidence base is not as developed. Although fewer intervention trials exist on this topic, there are observational studies of clinical importance, which provide information as well as serve to highlight the major sexual and reproductive health issues that exist for women with SCI.