A recent article
showed that sex was at least "least somewhat important" in
approximately half of men 75 years and older. Odds were reduced in interest and
participation in sexual activity the higher the age, if the partner had
physical limitations and the use of antidepressants and beta blockers.
So what is the effect of stroke on sexual activity?
Almost 75% of strokes occur in folks over
65. Added to the advanced age of most stroke survivors there is also usually
add increase in medications as a result of a stroke. There are also the mental
and physical impacts of stroke that take a toll on sexuality. Included reasons
are to believe that the stroke may affect the relationship, financial issues
and low self-esteem.
Stroke is not usually cause sexual dysfunction.
But there are a variety of us psychological issues that do impact sex after
stroke. The new challenges that stroke survivors and caregivers have to go
through when they get home block out everything else. Scheduling health care
workers, dealing with managed care and paperwork, as well challenges of getting
to and from all the appointments are just some of the problems that get in the
way of other, more fun, things. There is a period after stroke in which sex
usually doesn't take place. But this little is usually temporary. For instance,
80% of men with erectile dysfunction after stroke regained the ability to have
sex a few months later. And that change was spontaneous.
There is a general belief that after stroke sex can cause another stroke. This hardly ever happens (although it may be true in people with parallel heart disease -- consult your physician). Despite the fact that sex is safe after stroke as many as half of all survivors fear that sex may cause harm. Many partners of survivors also have fear that sex will cause another stroke in their partner.
By: "stroke recovery blog" "stroke blog"
1 comment:
I know that the hospital cancer clinic here has a sexuality counselor that people are routinely sent to along with all the other resource people.
http://www.cancercare.mb.ca/home/patients_and_family/patient_and_family_support_services/cancer_and_sexuality/
Too bad we don't have a matching service for stroke survivors. The first passionate kiss, when half your face doesn't cooperate, lets you know that some things just aren't going to be the same.
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