A Scoping Review of Literature on Sexual Health and Wellness in Women with Spinal Cord Injury

Women with spinal cord injury (SCI) often experience sexual dysfunction, however, it is underassessed and undertreated in clinical settings. This purpose of this scoping review was to characterize, synthesize and evaluate the current evidence on sexuality, sexual function, and sexual wellness among women with SCI in order to inform care practices, highlight gaps in knowledge, and guide the development of interventions to improve sexual health and well-being. The scoping review methodological framework and the PRISMA extension were used to guide the search strategy, study selection, data collection, and reporting. Searched articles related to SCI and sexuality and sexual health from 1980 to 2022. The study team synthesized the information extracted from eligible studies both descriptively and thematically. Sixty-five articles met inclusion criteria. The majority of research was conducted in high income, Western countries, and explored sexual dysfunction for women with SCI. Few studies described the development and dissemination of interventions aimed at improving sexual function or quality of life, and 91% of the studies were observational. In this 40-year period, the field of research has established a solid foundation connecting SCI with sexual dysfunction. It is time to progress the field into developing and disseminating behavioral interventions to complement devices and drugs. These interventions may seek not only to improve sexual function, but also increase sexual self-efficacy and well-being, improve relationship satisfaction, increase self-advocacy, and provide access to educational resources and therapeutic aids that can improve sexual satisfaction and sexual quality of life for women with SCI.