Spina bifida and sexuality.

Authors

  • Michael Ernst von Linstow
  • Ida Biering-Sørensen
  • Annette Liebach
  • Marianne Lind
  • Aase Seitzberg
  • Rikke Bølling Hansen
  • Fin Biering-Sørensen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1863

Keywords:

spina bifida, myelomeningocele, sexuality, sexual function, sexual counselling, urinary and faecal incontinence, hydrocephalus, quality of life.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sexual function amongst adult individuals with spina bifida and to register their subjective satisfaction with their sexual life and relationships. SETTING: Department for Spinal Cord Injuries, East Denmark. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Cohort study. Medical record information, neurological examination, personal interview, Functional Independence Measure (FIMTM), Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) on quality of life, and questions on sexual function and related topics. Study cohort: Fifty-three participants (27 women, 26 men) with spina bifida (mean age 27.1, range 18-35) years. Response rate 74%. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of subjects regarded their sexual life as a failure or dysfunctional. However, 45% reported being satisfied with their sexual life. Participants with partners were more satisfied with their sexual life than those without partners. Faecal, but not urinary, incontinence was associated with poorer sexual function and less satisfaction. Forty-nine percent of subjects indicated that the sexual education they received at puberty was useful

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Published

2014-07-24

How to Cite

von Linstow, M. E., Biering-Sørensen, I., Liebach, A., Lind, M., Seitzberg, A., Hansen, R. B., & Biering-Sørensen, F. (2014). Spina bifida and sexuality. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 46(9), 891–897. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1863

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 9 (2014)

Section

Original Report

License

All digitalized JRM contents is available freely online. The Foundation for Rehabilitation Medicine owns the copyright for all material published until volume 40 (2008), as from volume 41 (2009) authors retain copyright to their work and as from volume 49 (2017) the journal has been published Open Access, under CC-BY-NC licences (unless otherwise specified). The CC-BY-NC licenses allow third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution to the original work.
From 2024, articles are published under the CC-BY licence. This license permits sharing, adapting, and using the material for any purpose, including commercial use, with the condition of providing full attribution to the original publication.

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