Sex and neurological disorders

Written by Dr David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist


What is a neurological disorder?

A neurological disorder is a disease or injury of the nervous system – which is the ‘communications network’ of the body. Common neurological disorders include strokes, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries – mainly caused by road accidents. Head injuries are also common, and may interfere with sexual function.

It is important to realise that the vast majority of sexual problems are not caused by any kind of neurological disease.

However, nerve disorders which can cause sexual difficulties include all the above conditions.

Strokes

Strokes (cerebrovascular accidents or CVAs) are tremendously common, and affect well over 100,000 people each year in the UK.

Many of them make a good recovery. Quite a few CVA survivors do want to continue with their sex lives – particularly men.

With the help of a cooperative and loving partner, it is often possible to continue with a reasonable amount of sexual activity, though lack of mobility may be a problem. Some couples successfully get round this with the use of vibrators.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)


Free treatment

MS is one of the few disorders which entitle the patient, under the NHS, to free treatment with drugs for erection problems.


Many men and women who have multiple sclerosis (MS) do manage to maintain a rewarding sex life. However, some patients do have difficulty in achieving orgasm. Men may sometimes have problems in getting an erection.

Fortunately, the recently developed ‘erection helping’ drugs have proved a great boon to many male MS sufferers.

Viagra (sildenafil) works in about half of these patients. If it is not successful, then it’s well worth trying its newer successors: Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).

If these drugs fail, there is also the possibility of penile injections, or of using a vacuum pump.

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease is extremely common, and has become more so as people have started to live longer.

It causes trembling and incordination in various parts of the body. The difficulty in coordination may cause problems with intercourse, and sometimes with erection.

Fortunately, the oral treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) can help these patients, and they are not contraindicated in men with Parkinson's disease. Under the NHS regulations, these drugs are available free if you have Parkinson’s disease.

Spinal injuries

Serious spinal injuries – most commonly sustained in traffic, riding or aircraft accidents – are likely to cause paralysis and loss of sensation in regions of the body below the level of the damage to the spinal cord.

Unfortunately, sexual function is very often affected. Men may lose the ability to get an erection – and obviously this may make it very difficult for them to have children.

However, many people with spinal injuries do manage to have a fairly active sex life – particularly if they have a considerate, loving and inventive partner.

Furthermore, the new drugs to treat ED will help many men who have sustained spinal trauma. NHS rules allow free prescription of these drugs if you have a spinal cord injury.

If the man wants to father children, this may sometimes be possible using recently developed methods of obtaining sperm, such as electro-ejaculation – in which an electric stimulus is applied to the prostate area, via the rectum.

The cost of this treatment is considerable, but if you were injured in an accident through no fault of your own, your compensation payment may cover it.

At a conference we attended in 2008, it was stated that a cheaper alternative to electrotherapy is the use of a male specially-designed vibrator, operating at a particular frequency.

Useful organisations

Organisations which can provide further information that may help your sex life include:


The Stroke Association: helpline: 0845 3033100.


Multiple Sclerosis Society: helpline: 0808 800 8000.


Parkinson's Disease Society: helpline: 0808 800 0303.


Spinal Injuries Association: helpline: 0800 980 0501.


Outsiders Sex and Disability helpline: telephone: 0707 499 3527.