Can people in wheelchairs still have sex?

If an aroused male is unfortunately the victim of a spinal cord injury, the ability to have sexual intercourse depends on the level of injury. In men there are normally two types of erections. Psychogenic erections, which result from sexual thoughts, and reflex erections, which result from direct physical contact.

Psychogenic erections develop from the nerves of the spinal cord that exit toward the bottom of the spine at the T10-L2 levels. Generally, men with an incomplete injury at a low level are more likely to have psychogenic erections than men with high-level incomplete injury. Men with complete injuries are less likely to experience psychogenic erections.

Reflex erections arise in the sacral area of the spinal cord. Many men with a spinal cord injury are able to have reflex erection with physical stimulation if this pathway is not damaged.

By Mark Leyner

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Next: Is it true that you can break your penis?
Previous: How do infrared faucets work?
"Can people in wheelchairs still have sex?" was posted on Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 2:07 am.