Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a form of acquired brain injury that can result in a range of functional deficits in individuals. Many consequences of TBI are easily observable, such as impaired physical ability, but conditions related to cognition, memory, and difficulties managing daily living may be invisible to others. A largely neglected area of daily living during TBI rehabilitation is experiencing issues with sexuality. A previous study found that 82% of individuals resumed their sexual life one year after TBI, but about half of individuals reported decreased frequency of sexual activities, and roughly 30% of individuals experienced dissatisfaction with sexual function or decreased sexual desire.
While sexual changes in stroke-related brain injuries have been recently studied, there have been fewer research efforts for other types of brain injuries, including TBI. To further explore sexuality in individuals with TBI and other brain injuries, a team of researchers conducted a study in which 250 individuals with non-stroke-related brain injury completed a sexuality questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed patients on their sexual activity, satisfaction, and specific sexual functions, finding that:
- About 63% of participants reported decreased sexual desire or no sexual desire at all.
- A higher degree of cognitive impairment following brain injury was associated with experiencing decreased sexual desire and dissatisfaction after sex.
- Changes in arousal were significantly higher in male participants (51%) as compared to females (31%).
- Other common outcomes of brain injury, such as memory and tiredness, were also associated with sexual dissatisfaction.
Other social and psychological changes may also contribute to challenges with intimacy in individuals with brain injuries, and subtle changes in social behavior may be difficult for clinicians to detect. Integrating sexual rehabilitation into the treatment plan of individuals with TBI may improve quality of life for individuals experiencing post-injury sexual dysfunction. It is important for clinicians to consider this not only for those with apparent physical impairments, but also for those with seemingly invisible consequences on the path to TBI recovery.
Ann-Sofie Ek, Charlotta Holmström & Eva Elmerstig. Sexuality >1 year after brain injury rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study in Sweden. Brain Injury. (November 2022).