International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Sex and Intimacy after Stroke: Recommendations from the 2013 AHA Consensus Document

Donald D. Kautz and Elizabeth R. Van Horn

This paper summarizes the key points of an AHA consensus document and other recent research for multidisciplinary members of stroke rehabilitation teams to use in alleviating concerns about sex and intimacy for stroke survivors and their partners. Evidence-based recommendations include asking about intimacy and sexual concerns, discussing the safety of resuming sexual activity, coping with the stroke sequelae of paraparesis, aphasia, concrete thinking, emotional liability, and loss of emotional awareness.