Post-Stroke Sexual Dysfunction: Obstacles to Promote a Comprehensive Care

Abstract

Stroke is considered the fifth leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of sequelae in the affected individuals. Among the major shortcomings, there are changes in speech, strength, sensation, cognition and sexuality, causing serious implications for the quality of life of affected patients. In this ambience, the work of a multidisciplinary team is essential to understand the needs and peculiarities in individual treatment and care post-stroke, aiming to rehabilitate patients for performing instrumental activities of daily living. However, several studies indicate a deficiency of the multidisciplinary team to address sexuality, not revealed by theme or approach for patient dissatisfaction on how this issue is managed. This happens because of the absence of a proper scale to address sexuality in the context of stroke, revealing the need to develop and validate an instrument that specifically applies to patients with sexual dysfunction post-stroke.