Women with complete spinal cord injury: A phenomenological study of sexualexperiences

This study examines psychosocial, emotional, and relationship aspects of se xuality in the lives of 15 women who sustained complete spinal cord injury (SCI) between the levels of T6 and L2. Phenomenological interviews were org anized to chronologically sequence events with the intention of describing the trajectory of sexuality in women with complete SCI A set of themes emer ged from postinjury data that were labeled cognitive-genital dissociation, sexual disenfranchisement, and sexual rediscovery. Broadening the scope of the research beyond the physiological offers insight as to the interplay be tween the mind and sexual response and guidance for educational and therape utic interventions.