Post-stroke sexual dysfunction: An overlooked and under-addressed problem

Sexual disorders after stroke are thought to be due to multiple etiologies, including both organic and psychosocial causes. Sexual function in post-stroke patients is often disregarded by healthcare professionals although sexuality is a fundamental part of quality of life. Beside pharmacological treatment, one of the most important, but underestimated, success factors of SD therapy is undeniably a proper counseling, which is mandatory to provide correct information on post-stroke sexuality helping the patients and their partners to regain intimacy.Implications for RehabilitationSexuality is an integrant and essential part of QoL, and patient affected by stroke should be investigated and treated for sexual disorders.Stroke may alter sexual response by changing the process of sexual stimuli to preclude arousal, decreasing or increasing desire, and curtailing genital engorgement.There is a need for a better management of stroke-related problems, including SD, providing the patients and their partner information useful to achieve a better sexual health.