SCI: Bowel, Bladder, & Sexual Dysfunction

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

Thousands of CE Courses
Patient Education
Home Exercise Program
And more

Subscribe Now

First Chapter Free Buy Course

Video Runtime: 119 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 7 Minutes

Spinal cord injuries can cause catastrophic changes to the person’s ability to control bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Each of these areas has a significant effect on the person’s quality of life and ability to live independently. Medical professionals use their knowledge of expected functional outcomes for each level of injury to create a plan of care to maximize the person’s abilities to maintain continence and decrease their burden of care. We are all sexual beings and it is important for these individuals to understand that sexuality can still be a part of their lives. This course reviews the interprofessional team’s role in the management of bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction.

Meet your instructor

Anne Leclaire

Anne graduated with a Master of Science-Nursing from the University of Phoenix and has worked in the field of rehabilitation nursing for most of her career. She started as a staff nurse in inpatient rehabilitation at Weldon Center for Rehabilitation in Springfield, Massachusetts and then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, at…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

1. Gastrointestinal System Manifestations: Bowel Dysfunction

The spinal cord injury’s effect on the individual’s GI system will be dependent on the level and completeness of the injury. This usually involves the ability to voluntarily control bowel emptying, placing the person at risk for incontinence or bowel obstruction. This chapter will discuss the expected changes caused by the spinal cord injury and how medical professionals will use this information to develop and implement bowel management strategies based on the person’s level of injury. Teaching persons with SCI to address and prevent complications is also discussed.

2. Genitourinary System Manifestations: Bladder Dysfunction

The spinal cord injury’s effect on the individual’s GU system will be dependent on the level and completeness of the injury. This usually involves the ability to control bladder emptying, placing the person at risk for incontinence or retention. This chapter will discuss the expected changes caused by the spinal cord injury and how medical professionals will use this information to develop and implement bladder management strategies based on the person’s level of injury.

3. Promoting Bladder Health and Preventing Complications

The spinal cord injury’s effect on the individual’s GU system will be dependent on the level and completeness of the injury, which will determine the appropriate bladder management technique. The inability to control bladder emptying places the person with a spinal cord injury at risk for potential complications, such as infections and retention. This chapter will review the medical professional’s role in providing education on potential urinary tract complications and discussing strategies to promote a healthy urinary system.

4. Genitourinary System Manifestations: Sexual Dysfunction

The spinal cord injury’s effect on an individual’s sexual function will depend on the level and completeness of the injury. This usually involves the loss of the ability to control the physical changes and loss of or changes in sensations that occur during sexual activity. This chapter will discuss these alterations caused by the spinal cord injury as well as strategies to overcome these barriers. Medical professionals perform an important role in educating and supporting persons with a spinal cord injury as they seek to regain their sexuality, and the interprofessional team must be current and comfortable to provide this information.

More courses in this series

SCI: Pathophysiology, Management, & Assessment

Anne Leclaire

SCI: Systemic, Neurological, & Cardiovascular Changes

Anne Leclaire

SCI: Cardiac, Pulmonary, Integumentary, & Nutrition

Anne Leclaire