Spinal cord injuries and orgasm: a review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Sexuality studies

Background:

• Definitions of orgasm lack standardization, hindering consistent physiological marker application.
• The occurrence of orgasm post-spinal cord injury (SCI) is documented, with recent focus on its neurologic and autonomic correlates.
• Understanding orgasm after SCI requires examining injury levels, degrees, and patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent studies on the occurrence of orgasm following spinal cord injury.
• To investigate the neurologic and autonomic correlates of orgasm in individuals with SCI.
• To explore potential therapeutic strategies for orgasmic dysfunction in SCI.

Main Methods:

• Review of laboratory-based assessments of orgasmic responsiveness in women and men with SCI.
• Analysis of peripheral autonomic responses during orgasm in SCI.
• Identification of spinal pattern generators mediating orgasmic responses in animal models.

Main Results:

• Laboratory assessments reveal the effects of orgasm on peripheral autonomic responses in SCI.
• Varying injury patterns in SCI impact the ability to achieve orgasm.
• A spinal pattern generator analogous to orgasm has been identified in rats.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest that retraining reflexic orgasm via neural stimulation is a potential therapeutic avenue.
• Vibratory or other forms of neural stimulation may remediate orgasmic dysfunction in persons with SCI.
• Further research into the neurophysiology of orgasm post-SCI can inform treatment strategies.