FEMALE CHANGES

Much less is known about changes to female sexuality than male sexuality following spinal cord injuries for the following reasons:

• ? About 20% of spinal cord injuries occur to women - with the majority of injuries happening to young men between the ages of 18 - 30. Research that has been done tends to focus on the segment of the population with the greatest numbers.
• ? It was assumed that women are the "passive recipients" of sex and therefore an injury that interferes with mobility and sensation would have no effect on their sexuality.
• ? Because women's sexual organs are inside the body they are more difficult to study than male sexual organs which are easily visualized.

The next updates of the site will focus on women's special sexual concerns such as:

• ? Lubrication
• ? Orgasm
• ? Sexual interest or desire
• ? Bladder and bowel concerns
• ? Spasticity
• ? Birth control
• ? Pregnancy, labour and delivery