Article

Although the rehabilitation of sexual function has been identified as
a top priority among women presenting neurological conditions, sexual function is
rarely assessed in this clinical group. OBJECTIVES:
To review published
assessment tools of sexual dysfunction in women with neurological conditions
including multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson disease,
stroke, traumatic brain injury. METHODS: A systematic literature review was
conducted with Medline via PubMed, PubMed Central, and Medline databases.
RESULTS: There are three reliable methods to assess sexual dysfunctions in women
with neurological conditions: physiological assessments of reflexes and perineal
sensitivity testing, self-reporting questionnaires on sexual function and sexual
satisfaction, and electrophysiological assessments. Physiological assessments of
sacral and thoracolumbar reflexes have mainly been conducted among women with
SCI. When performed, they reveal the existence of a psychogenic and/or reflex
sexual potential in those women. Other forms of physiological assessments include
vulvar sensitivity testing in women with SCI, quantitative sensory testing and
pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials in MS populations. A few validated
self-reporting measures are also available to assess sexual potential and sexual
satisfaction, although mostly in women with SCI and MS. CONCLUSION: Despite high
prevalence rates and important clinical implications, sexual dysfunction is not
systematically assessed in women presenting various neurological conditions.
Several well-validated tools exist for such assessments, which could be used for
sexual rehabilitation in these patients. The implementation of systematic
assessments of sexual potential is feasible and renewed efforts should be made to
do so in clinical practice.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS