Sexual functioning in stroke survivors

Investigation of sexual interest, function and attitudes of 35 patients (24 men and 11 women) before and after stroke showed no significant changes in sexual interest or desire for either men or women. However, men experienced significant decrease in ability to achieve erection and to ejaculate, and all of the 5 women who were premenopausal at the time of stroke reported major alterations in menses. Only 1 woman reported orgasm following stroke. Nineteen (79%) of the men and eight (73%) of th women reported sexual function to be of importance to themselves while all of the men and eight (73%) of the women believed it to be of importance to others of their age. The findings from this small sample indicate that although the majority of stroke survivors maintain consistent levels of sexual desire and believe that sexual function is important, most will experience sexual dysfunction following stroke. The sexual problems experienced by post-stroke patients appear to be of sufficient magnitude and frequency to warrant further investigation.