Sexual dysfunction

 

Activity answers:

You could give advice about practical steps to improve things:

• Plan for sexual activity in advance
• Pay attention to personal hygiene and grooming as this makes most of us feel more attractive and better about ourselves
• Choose a time when both of you are feeling rested, relaxed and when privacy is guaranteed
• Avoid excessive alcohol as this can have an effect on the ability to achieve or maintain an erection; alcohol can also increase tiredness and drowsiness
• If your stroke restricts your movement and /or sensation, explore different positions, which might suit you both better
• Try talking with your partner, and identify any problems you are experiencing. Ways around any difficulties can be found
• Having a urinary catheter need not prevent you from having penetrative sex. Females can tape the tube out of the way; males can wear a condom with the tube folded back over the penis
• Try using lubrication jelly

You could give advice about other ways of achieving sexual fulfilment:

• There are other ways of expressing your feelings for someone and achieving sexual fulfilment even if you cannot manage penetrative sex.  Most people feel the need for and benefit from physical contact and you can give and receive a lot of pleasure through kissing, cuddling and massage
• Remember if sex was important to you before your stroke there is no reason why you cannot have a sex life after your stroke, whether this is initiating a new relationship or resuming an old one.  However, keeping an open mind and giving yourself time to adjust is often the solution to getting your sex life back on track