Brain Injuries

Review Explores Sexual Effects of Brain Injury

Amanda Mineer

There has been very little research done into how people who have suffered a brain injury, like veterans injured during combat duty, deal with the effect of their brain injury on their sexuality and sexual functioning. There have been some studies that have focused on how spouses of veterans deal with these injuries, but California veterans’ benefits lawyers have found that these studies have not delved heavily into the sexual effects of these injuries.
Research into this area is very important because the issue affects more than 3 million Americans who are living with brain injury in the country.

An investigative team recently conducted a critical review of at least 14 studies into the issue of sexuality and brain injury. Close to 1500 patients, their spouses, partners, and other professionals were included in the study. The results of the study have been published in the journal Neurohabilitation: an International Journal.

The reviewers analyzed a number of effects of a brain injury on a person’s sexual life. For instance, these persons may suffer from neuropsychological and psychological effects that come with changes in body image, loss of identity, depression, anxiety, and cognitive deficits. These can definitely impact a person’s sexual identity.

A person who has suffered a brain injury may also need to take plenty of medications that may suppress sexual function. For instance, many drugs that are administered to people with traumatic brain injury like antihypertensives stimulants or antidepressants are known to have a depressing effect on libido. These drugs can affect the potential for ejaculation, arousal and orgasm.

Most importantly, traumatic brain injury can bring about changes in interpersonal relationships between patients and their spouses or partners, further compounding problems.

The researchers have concluded the review, and are calling for more investigations into these issues, so that better interventions for these problems can be identified and implemented.