HIV Insight: Sexual Functioning & Sexual Well-Being in People with a Limb Amputation: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Netherlands

PURPOSE:

This study aimed to: (a) investigate whether, and if so which, sexual problems are present in people with a limb amputation; (b) analyze how they experience their sexuality; and (c) investigate whether sexuality was discussed with them during their rehabilitation process.

METHOD:

In total, 301 participants completed a survey consisting of a questionnaire on participant characteristics, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (MMQ), the Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS), the Questionnaire about SexualCounselling, the Questionnaire about Sexuality and the Short Sexual Functioning Scale (SSFS).

RESULTS:

Overall, 20% of the participants experienced one or more sexual dysfunction(s). Participants who had at least one sexual dysfunction were more likely to be male, had an amputation more recently, and had a more negative body image. Moreover, sexuality was only scantly discussed by rehabilitation professionals.

CONCLUSIONS:

Sexual problems and sexual dysfunctions do occur in people with a limb amputation, but these problems are not discussed during the rehabilitation process. Justice for a person's "whole body" can only be served when sexuality is taken seriously in rehabilitation care in order to avoid cutting sexuality out of an amputee's life. Implications for Rehabilitation People with a limb amputation may be confronted with sexual problems and/or sexual dysfunctions. It is therefore important that sexuality is taken seriously as a part of standard rehabilitation care and that professionals bring up the issue of sexuality during the rehabilitation process.

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By: Verschuren JE1, Geertzen JH1, Enzlin P2,3, Dijkstra PU1,4, Dekker R1.

1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Center for Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , The Netherlands .
2 Department of Neurosciences , Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies , KU Leuven , Belgium .
3 Context - Center for Couple, Family and Sex Therapy , Department of Psychiatry , UPC KU Leuven , Belgium , and.
4 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , The Netherlands.
Disabil Rehabil. 2016 Feb;38(4):368-73. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1044029. Epub 2015 Jun 1.