Quality of sexual life in Mexican men after spinal cord injury

Authors

  • Paulina Lucia Acosta-Santillán Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
  • Maria Fernanda Toro-Sashida Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
  • Alejandra Viridiana Rosas-Mendoza Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8391-0383
  • Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6230-8359
  • Kelvin Jasso-García Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3892-9400
  • Paulina García de León-Flores Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
  • Mel Paul Mellado-Téllez Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6871-5043
  • Silvia Alejandra Ibarra-Camargo Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5463-1471
  • Jonathan Matías Chejfec-Ciociano Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0205-6844
  • Francisco José Barbosa-Camacho Department of Psychiatry, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3897-2767
  • Juan Armando Flores-Prado Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4887-1038
  • Gabino Cervantes-Guevara Department of Wellbeing and Sustainable Development, Centro Universitario del Norte, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6249-4737
  • Enrique Cervantes-Pérez Department of Internal Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco. México https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6333-9082
  • Guillermo Alonso Cevantes-Cardona Department of Philosophical, Methodological and Instrumental Disciplines, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0180-6201
  • Andrea Socorro Alvarez-Villaseñor Department of General Surgery, Juan María de Salvatierra General Hospital, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1857-4267
  • Alejandro González-Ojeda Biomedical Research Unit 02, Specialties Hospital of the National Medical Center of the West, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2935-8703

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v55.11641

Keywords:

sexual dysfunction, spinal cord injury, psychosocial support, sexual health, neurological rehabilitation, self-esteem, masculinity, biopsychosocial sphere

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the quality of sexual life in men with spinal cord injury.

Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.

Patients: Males with a history of spinal cord injury who attended an outpatient rehabilitation service.

Methods: An analytical study examined adult male patients with complete spinal cord injury in rehabilitation. A modified Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (SLQQ) examined quality of sexual life, with scores below 50 suggesting significant sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction. The assessment evaluated age, occupation, marital status, comorbidities, and treatment methods.

Results: A total of 80 patients were included; 33 (41%) had a thoracic spinal cord injury, and 47 (59%) had a lumbar spinal cord injury. Thirty-seven patients (46%) were dissatisfied with the quality of their sexual life; 29 patients (88%) with thoracic spinal cord injury and 8 patients (17%) with lumbar spinal cord injury were dissatisfied with the quality of their sexual life (p = 0.001). Patients with higher education level experienced less sexual dissatisfaction (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Human sexuality involves numerous interconnected elements that impact on general health. Sexual pleasure, self-esteem, and personal relationships are crucial for patients with spinal cord injury to identify rehabilitation needs. These results indicate the importance of supporting sexual well-being in recovery. Further studies of sexual enjoyment and quality of life for patients with spinal cord injury are needed, using larger and more diverse populations.

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Published

2023-12-20

How to Cite

Acosta-Santillán, P. L., Toro-Sashida, M. F. ., Rosas-Mendoza, A. V., Fuentes-Orozco, C., Jasso-García , K., García de León-Flores, P., … González-Ojeda, A. (2023). Quality of sexual life in Mexican men after spinal cord injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 55, jrm11641. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v55.11641

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Vol. 55 (2023)

Section

Original Report

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Copyright (c) 2023 Paulina Lucia Acosta-Santillán, Maria Fernanda Toro-Sashida, Alejandra Viridiana Rosas-Mendoza, Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco, Kelvin Jasso-García , Paulina García de León-Flores, Mel Paul Mellado-Téllez, Silvia Alejandra Ibarra-Camargo, Jonathan Matías Chejfec-Ciociano, Francisco José Barbosa-Camacho, Juan Armando Flores-Prado, Gabino Cervantes-Guevara, Enrique Cervantes-Pérez, Guillermo Alonso Cevantes-Cardona, Andrea Socorro Alvarez-Villaseñor, Alejandro González-Ojeda

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