The impact of stroke on female sexuality

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of stroke on female sexuality from the perspective of women who have had a stroke. Method: A descriptive qualitative study. Nine female stroke survivors living in metropolitan and surrounding districts of Sydney, Australia took part in sem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disability and rehabilitation 2017-09, Vol.39 (20), p.2011-2020
Main Authors: Lever, Sandra, Pryor, Julie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Australia
biographical adjustment
Body Image - psychology
Fatigue - physiopathology
Fatigue - psychology
Female
female sexuality
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Middle Aged
Sampling Studies
self-concept
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
Sexuality - physiology
Sexuality - psychology
stroke
Stroke - physiopathology
Stroke - psychology
Survivors
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Summary:Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of stroke on female sexuality from the perspective of women who have had a stroke. Method: A descriptive qualitative study. Nine female stroke survivors living in metropolitan and surrounding districts of Sydney, Australia took part in semi-structured conversational interviews. The mean length of time from stroke onset to interview was around 6 years and 2 months (range 1 year, 2 months to 15 years, 9 months). The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were systematically analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: The women experienced many and varied bodily alterations as a consequence of stroke which impacted negatively on their sexuality. These bodily alterations impacted on female sexuality in two ways: one was as an assault on the female sense of self and the other was by limiting possibilities for enacting female sexuality. Conclusion: Stroke impacts on female sexuality through bodily alterations and their consequences and because sexuality is important to female stroke survivors, it should be addressed as part of person-centred rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Sexuality is about much more than just "having sex" and is important to female stroke survivors. Stroke impacts on female sexuality through bodily alterations and their consequences. Understanding the impact of stroke on female sexuality is a step towards more person-centred rehabilitation.
ISSN:0963-8288
1464-5165
DOI:10.1080/09638288.2016.1213897