Paralysis Of Vagina - Things You Must Know!

We all know that our intimacy plays an essential role in how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us. But what happens when one is stuck with paralysis, what’s the effect of this event on our sexual image and performance?

1. Paralysis impacts a woman’s sexuality because it changes the physical functioning, sensation, and response.
2. Apart from all the life-changing things that happen post-paralysis, women are also left with a great emotional and sometimes, a physiological burden. They wonder if they can have sex again and whether it’s possible to get pregnant and have babies.
3. Paralysis doesn’t affect physical attraction and the desire for sex. In fact, in many cases, though not all, sexual pleasure is also possible as sexuality in women living with paralysis is less affected than in men.

Physiological Effect of Paralysis on Women

Most women with paralysis have no physiological changes that prevent them from having sex. But some women who are paralyzed from the waist down or neck down may suffer from paralysis of the vagina.

In this condition, the nerves that feed the vagina become completely dead, leaving a woman with no sensation in her genitals. These women are unable to experience the feeling of having penetrative sex or oral or manual stimulation of the genitals or very little. Sexual touch and pleasure can sometimes be experienced by women due to the vagus nerve which bypasses the spine.

• The woman thus has to re-learn other ways of enjoying physical closeness with her partner. It is also often seen that loss of sensation in the genitals is offset by an abundance of sensation in other parts of the body like the neck or just above the point of paralysis.
• Women also have to be trained differently to enjoy penetrative sex by say inserting a finger into their vaginas during penetration as otherwise, they are unable to experience the feelings during penetration due to a paralyzed vagina.

Other Complications Found in Women with Paralysis

1. Autonomic dysreflexia or sudden high blood pressure due to spinal cord paralysis at the time of sexual activity.
2. Many women also experience a loss of vaginal muscle control and most are unable to produce enough vaginal lubrication during sex due to the interruption in normal nerve signals from the brain to the genital area.
3. Muscle loss can’t be corrected but lubrication can be taken care of by using water-based lubricants like K-Y jelly.
4. Also, low sex drive is common among women with paralysis.
5. Viagra has been clinically tested on women with spinal cord injuries and it’s been reported to be effective in promoting sexual arousal and sensation during intercourse.

Can Paralyzed Women Rediscover Orgasms or Not

A woman with paralysis can experience normal orgasm during sex if there is some pelvic denervation, but in women, with paralyzed vaginas, a normal orgasm doesn’t seem very likely though researchers are trying to explore more.

Some researchers think that paralyzed women retain an ability to orgasm due to a ‘reflex’ that requires no brain input. Research also indicates that ability to achieve orgasms is independent of neurological impairment.

What happens more often is that paralyzed women quit trying to have an orgasm because they lack or have limited sensation in the genital area. Research also suggests that these women can achieve orgasm using an FDA approved clitoral vacuum suction device to treat female orgasmic dysfunction. The device works by increasing blood flow, and improves engorgement of the clitoris and vaginal lubrication and thus enhances orgasm response. If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult a sexologist.

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