Let’s Talk about Sex and Stroke Recovery
I am a physiotherapist who works with patients who have had a stroke. They can range in age from 18 or 19 years old, to those who are more than 100 years old. All of the patients we work with have had something life-changing happen. Stroke can be a very devastating event.
Part of my work has focused on normalizing conversations about sex for people who have experienced a stroke. In the past, it was really noticeable that there was a large gap in our practice, where people felt like talking about sex after a stroke but thought it was a taboo topic. Patients and caregivers didn’t feel comfortable opening up with us about sex. In terms of touch and intimacy and sex, there is a whole connection piece that is a big component of recovering from a stroke.
We wanted to normalize the topic and make sure people had the opportunity to address the subject if they wanted to. In stroke recovery, we’re good at asking about goals. We work in rehabilitation, so we ask, “What are the things you need to do to go home?” So, from a goals perspective, you’ll hear answers like, “I need to go to the bathroom myself.” Or, “I need to feed myself.” Or, “I have to walk.”
To help people feel more comfortable talking about stroke recovery and sex, we created education pamphlets for patients and posters for the walls. We also incorporated talking about sex into our goal-setting interview for all patients. These changes have made a big difference in the care that we provide, and we’re getting more comfortable with the topic.
After a stroke, your life can look very different. As health care practitioners, we have to be very mindful not just of the health impacts of a stroke, but also how the stroke affects the patient in the roles and relationships they have with the other people in their lives. And, we can influence how patients preserve and foster those relationships by opening up these discussions.
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Vanessa Ong is a clinical instructional assistant in Temerty Medicine’s Department of Physical Therapy and a physiotherapist at University Health Network’s University Centre.