Intimacy Post-Injury

Since terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a total of 2.7 million US service members have served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Often discussed during this period have been post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, the so-called “invisible wounds of war.” These injuries directly affect intimate relationships, and the treatment of these injuries involves medications that often have sexual side effects. Another set of wounds are those that directly involve sexual functioning, including lower extremity amputations and genitourinary injuries. This volume encourages medical personnel to discuss sexual health with their patients; learn how to evaluate and treat erectile dysfunction, including side effects from medications; and understand how to mitigate the effects of physical injury, pain, and disability on sexual functioning. The target medical audience includes all providers who treat injured service members and veterans. Service members and their families should benefit from the information in this book as well.