Sexuality following trauma injury: A literature review

This review explores the impact of trauma—specifically spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and burns—on survivors' sexuality and quality of life (QoL). It highlights that while sexuality is a key aspect of QoL, it's often overlooked in trauma rehabilitation. The review identifies four main themes: physiological impacts, cognitive-genital dissociation (CGD), sexual disenfranchisement (SD), and sexual rediscovery (SR). These themes encompass the various challenges and experiences faced by trauma survivors in relation to their sexuality. The authors advocate for the integration of sexuality into rehabilitation programs and suggest the need for further research to develop effective strategies for addressing sexual health in trauma survivors, ultimately aiming to improve their overall QoL.

• 1
  Physiological issues, such as sexual dysfunction, pain, medication side effects, and decreased libido, significantly affect sexuality across SCI, TBI, and burn trauma groups.
• 2
  Cognitive-genital dissociation (CGD), where individuals perceive themselves as no longer capable of giving or receiving sexual pleasure, is linked to the exclusion of sexuality-related information in rehabilitation.
• 3
  Sexual disenfranchisement (SD), marked by decreased body image and societal stereotypes, leads to sexual avoidance and a loss of sexual self-esteem among trauma survivors.