Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
Board

In the scant reports that are available about sexual response and orgasm in women with complete spinal corad injury (SCI), some researchers state that these women cannot achieve orgasm; others label the orgasm of women with SCI as 'phantom orgasms.' However, subjective reports of women do not support these contentions. The purpose of this study was to obtain objective correlates of the subjective reports of women with complete SCI during self-stimulation. The volunteer study particfipants consisted of 5 women without SCI (control group) and 16 women diagnosed with complete SCI. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and self-report of level of sexual arousal were determined during self-stimulation of the vagina, the cervix, and a 'hypersensitive'area. Blood pressure and heart rate were increased significanlty in response to vaginal or cervical self-stimulation only in the control group. Blood pressure increased significanlty in response to vaginal and cervical self-stimulation only in the group with complete SCI below T-10, whereas heart rate showed no significant change in the SCI group. Three women with SCI, one as high as T-7, and one without SCI self-reported orgasms during the laboratory study. The current findings support anecdotal reports from women with complete SCI of sexual arousal and orgasm from genital and non-genital self-stimulation.

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Presentation Number SAwhipple0437
Keywords: sexual response, women, spinal cord, complete sci, orgasm