A 33-year-old patient with a T4 spinal cord injury asks the nurse whether he will be able to be sexually active. Which initial response by the nurse is best?
a. Reflex erections frequently occur, but orgasm may not be possible.
b. Sildenafil (Viagra) is used by many patients with spinal cord injury.
c. Multiple options are available to maintain sexuality after spinal cord injury.
d. Penile injection, prostheses, or vacuum suction devices are possible options.
ANS: C
Although sexuality will be changed by the patient's spinal cord injury, there are options for expression of sexuality and for fertility. The other information also is correct, but the choices will depend on the degrees of injury and the patient's individual feelings about sexuality.
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