title: Sexuality and sexual dysfunction in spinal cord-injured men in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a comprehensive evaluation of sexual function and dysfunction in spinal cord-injured men based on self-reports of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven spinal cord-injured men who completed the spinal shock and rehabilitation period were included. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire developed to assess social status, sexual activities, abilities, and sexuality education after injury. Neurologic levels of patients were classified according to American Spinal Cord Injury Association protocol. Erectile function was evaluated by International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were aged between 20 and 62 years (mean: 35.2). Twenty-eight patients had T10 and above, 15 between T11 and L2, and 4 cauda conus injury. While 61.7% of the patients declared sexual activity, 93.6% declared some degree of erection. Mean IIEF-5 score was 5.3 and 87.3% of the patients had moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuation of sexual activity after injury is very important and has a great impact on quality of life and interpersonal relationships for spinal cord-injured men. More attention must be given to sexuality after spinal cord injury. A very high rate of sexual dysfunction in spinal cord-injured patients was found and the importance of sexual education was emphasized in this study.
authors.forename: Ramazan Yavuz
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coşkun Çelik
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karataş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D062072:Patient Acuity; D011788:Quality of Life; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D066252:Sociological Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology