Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction is often ignored in the clinical setting of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. The caregivers and the patients are not very comfortable discussing sexual problems. Human sexual activity is a complex mechanism that requires interaction with or endocrine and nervous system. Plexus of nerves somatic and autonomic innervate the genitalia. Unlike other mammals, the psychogenic component plays a significant role in human sexual activity. Persons suffering from brain disorders often have sexual dysfunction. Particularly for young men, it can be devastating. With an increase in the incidence of neurotrauma, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction has also increased. There is a requirement of enhanced awareness on options of management available for sexual dysfunction. Such awareness among treating physicians, surgeons, and patients will significantly reduce the emotional burden and stress of sexual dysfunction. As other symptoms of neurological disorders like mood changes, anxiety, and memory issues can impact sexual activity, there are no uniform guidelines for assessing and managing sexual dysfunction. In this chapter, we present an outline of sexual dysfunction in neurological disorders, physiology, pathogenesis, and management options. We summarize the neurorehabilitation aspects and diagnosis of sexual dysfunction in brain disorders. By no means is the intention to provide an exhaustive list of references to the readers, and for further details, they are suggested for articles on individual neurological disorders.