Sex life after a stroke

Sex life after a stroke is different. Find out more about the consequences and how to deal with them.

Stroke and statistics

In developed countries, mortality from stroke is approximately 15 per cent. In undeveloped countries, the mortality rate is significantly higher. One of the causes of a stroke is arterial hypertension or increased blood pressure. Compared to men, women suffer a stroke at a later age. They have a stroke around the age of 70, while men suffer a stroke, on average, around the age of 64. In the USA, brain vessel diseases are on the decrease, mainly because of the efficient monitoring of arterial hypertension or blood pressure. However, there are still a lot of possibilities in the area of prevention.

Time plays an important role

In European countries, stroke is the third cause of death. Data show that approximately 30 per cent of patients who suffer a stroke have permanent consequences, although they may not require constant assistance to tackle everyday activities. Another 20 percent of stroke patients require constant assistance with at least one everyday activity after treatment and rehabilitation, while the majority of stroke patients require institutional care. A severe stroke results in disability. Among those who suffer a stroke, there are approximately 55 per cent of disabled people who require complete care. Others have minor disability and some people don’t have any neurological disorders after a stroke. Today, there are very effective methods of treatment for stroke, but time plays an important role.

How can you prevent a stroke?

You have to eliminate the risk factors that you can have influence on. These factors are categorised into certain diseases and bad habits. The first category includes: high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, high cholesterol in blood, heart diseases related to clot development and some rare diseases, e.g. inflammation of the blood vessels, connective tissue diseases, blood coagulation disorders, etc. The category of bad habits includes smoking as the highest risk, excessive appetite, physical inactivity, alcoholism and illegal drugs. Stroke patients also have a shorter life expectancy and a higher risk of suffering a stroke again.

What happens to sex life?

Stroke is an illness which drastically affects the patient’s life and his or her family because it upsets the previous balance of his or her relationships. Stroke patients suffer from movement, sensation, emotional and communication disorders. All these disorders are factors which contribute significantly to a satisfactory sex life.

Sex life after a stroke is directly affected by the consequences of the illness

Erectile dysfunction  occurs in approximately 80% of men and most often disappears by itself after a few months. However, couples may still have sex problems for a few years. Special problems are also caused by urological disorders, which often occur after a stroke. Psychological signs (poor self-image), which may be the result of antidepressants, also have a strong influence. Emotional and behavioural difficulties (agitation, apathy, etc.) can stop your sex life and damage your relationship. Many people are afraid that sex life might cause them problems again and thus avoid it. However, the fear that your sex life may cause a stroke is unnecessary. There’s a change in the method of communication. The factors that make your sex life very difficult after a stroke are the inability to speak (which may be the result of paralysis) and the inability to understand other people.
Stroke can affect different brain areas. In some cases, it can damage the sensitivity of the genital area. It can also damage the hypothalamus, that is, the area of the brain that controls the functioning of hormones. These injuries can also lead to a reverse process and increase sexual desire, meaning that a stroke causes unusual (inappropriate) sexual behaviour.

Sex life is ruined by an aspiration to return to the time before the stroke

The biggest problem is an unwillingness to accept the situation and a desire to return to the time before the stroke. By accepting the situation, you enable more rapid progress in your life because you don’t yearn for the impossible. You feel a strong fear that your partner no longer finds you attractive. It often turns out that partners have a hard time accepting personality changes and sometimes need a lot of support.

Pregnancy after a stroke

Conception and stroke are connected. Stroke can be the result of taking contraceptive pills. A pregnant woman is supposed to be three times as likely to suffer a stroke. Experts, however, have different opinions. Women who have had a stroke aren’t more prone to another stroke. Each case is different and requires special treatment. Some women get pregnant, but they’re additionally monitored during their pregnancy; some take drugs that thin the blood.