Sexuality of Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy: Experienced Limitations and Needs

Objective of this study is to describe the problems young adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) experience in the various stages of the sexual response cycle, and the physical and emotional obstacles they experience with sexuality. In this prospective cohort study 74 young adults (46 men; 28 women) with CP and average intelligence participated, aged 20–24 years. Twenty percent of these young adults with CP experienced anorgasmia, 80% reported physical problems with sex related to CP and 45% emotional inhibition to initiate sexual contact. In 90% of the participants, sexuality had not been discussed during the rehabilitation treatment. Many adolescents reported wanting information about the impact of CP on sexuality and reproduction (35%), about interventions (26%), tools and medicines (16%) and about problems with their partner (14%). Young adults with CP can experience various problems or challenges with sexuality. For preventing sexual difficulties and treating sexual problems, health care professionals need to proactively take the initiative to inform young people with CP about sexuality

Cripping sex education: lessons learned from a programme aimed at young people with mobility impairments

This paper analyses sexuality and relationship education (SRE) in a Swedish college programme aimed at young people with mobility impairments. Interviews and focus groups were conducted to explore students’ experiences of the structure, content and usefulness of SRE, and college personnel’s SRE practices. Results show that, although many of the issues covered are pertinent for all youth, being disabled raises additional concerns: for example how to handle de-sexualising attitudes, possible sexual practices, and how reliance on assistance impacts upon privacy. Crip theory is used as an analytical framework to identify, challenge and politicise sexual norms and practices. Students’ experiences of living in a disablist, heteronormative society can be used as resources to develop cripistemologies, which challenge the private/public binary that often de-legitimises learners’ experiences and separates them from teachers’ ‘proper’ knowledge production. Crip SRE would likely hold bene ts for non-disabled pupils as well, through its use of more inclusive pedagogy and in work to expand sexual possibilities. Crip SRE has the potential to disrupt taken-for-granted​ dis/ability and sexuality divides as well as to politicise issues that many young people presently experience as ‘personal shortcomings’

Romantic Relationships and and Sexual Experiences of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy

textabstractObjectives: To describe the development of romantic relationships and sexual experiences of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and the physical and emotional obstacles they experience with sexuality. Regarding the ICF domains we investigated whether this development is associated with demographic and physical characteristics, peer group activities and dating and psychological and environmental factors. We compared the romantic relationships and sexual experiences of this group with an age-appropriate Dutch reference population. Design: Prospective longitudinal study with three biannual assessments. Setting: Eight rehabilitation centers and departments in the southwestern regions of the Netherlands. Participants: Young adults (N=103, 61 men, 42 women) with CP without cognitive disabilities, ranging from 16 to 20 years old at the first assessment, 82% Gross Motor Function Classification System level I-II. Interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measures: sexual interest, romantic relationships and sexual activity. Results: During the four years, the sexual experience of the participants increased significantly for all the sexual milestones evaluated. Compared with an age-appropriate Dutch reference population, young adults with CP participated at a lower level in romantic relationships and sexual activities, but had an equal sexual interest at the final assessment. Peer group activities and dating favored development of romantic relationships and a sexual career. Age and gross motor functioning explained 20% of the variance in experience with intercourse. In addition, self-efficacy, self-esteem, sexual esteem and perceived attractiveness contributed significantly to having current romantic relationships and to intercourse experience. Conclusions: Young ambulatory adults with CP had comparable sexual interests and they had increasing experiences with romantic relationships and sexual activities during the transition from late adolescence to young adulthood. Social participation and aspects of a positive self image were positively associated with romantic relationships and sexual experiences