Paraplegic Sex & Intimacy After a Spinal Cord Injury

It’s a top concern among people living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) or diagnosed with limited mobility—can you have sex after an SCI? The short answer is a resounding and enthusiastic “Yes!”

The longer answer is a little more complicated: Yes, you can have sex after an SCI, but it will most likely look and happen differently than sex between two partners without paraplegia or an SCI. Depending on your available mobility, you may experience changes in sensation, ability, and other sexual feelings. However, it’s important to remember that different doesn’t mean worse—it only means different. After all, regardless of physical ability, everyone experiences shifts and changes in their intimate encounters throughout their lives. You are far from alone as you meet the challenge of an evolving sex life.

How to be Intimate as a Paraplegic

Sexual desire doesn’t end with a spinal cord injury, and neither does your sex life. When you or your partner has limited mobility of any level, navigating sexual intimacy can feel overwhelming, challenging, or even outright impossible. You might fear causing pain or further injury during intimate moments.
While paraplegic sex does require a little more time, intention, and preparation than you may be used to, paraplegic sex or SCI sex is just as satisfying, stimulating, and fun as sex involving partners of any ability.

Establish Open & Ongoing Communication with Your Partner

The most critical aspect of enjoyable paraplegic sex is building trust between yourself and your partner. The best way to build trust is to establish open, consistent, and ongoing communication at all times. Discuss any worries or concerns you have, communicate your needs, and listen to what your partner requires from you. By working together, you can find what works best for you, your partnership, and your mobility.
One of IntimateRider’s customers with paraplegia, Matt, says that communication was one of the top ways that he and his girlfriend discovered how to have enjoyable, intimate sex. “Life after my injury has been a challenge,” he states. “I am fortunate enough to have found a wonderful relationship with an understanding and caring woman who is my best friend. We are open in our communication about sex.”

Embrace Change & Explore New Opportunities

As with any sexual relationship, a little bit of creativity and a willingness to try new things can open a world of increased intimacy, satisfying sexual relationships, and sensual positions. When you combine your imagination with experimentation, the sky’s the limit for your paraplegic sexual encounters. In fact, the team at IntimateRider has found that couples with limited mobility, when compared to couples without limited mobility, often find heightened emotional closeness and more variety in the bedroom as they work to discover new ways to please their partner.
Still, it can be hard to find a place to get started. We recommend:

• Trying out new intimate positions
• Modifying familiar sexual positions
• Focusing on non-penetrative sexual activities
• Incorporating massages or massage oil
• Integrating sex accessibility aids

High-Quality & Safe Sex Accessibility Aids for People with SCIs

A healthy, vibrant, and active sex life builds intimacy with your partner, releases endorphins, and increases your confidence in your day-to-day life. One way to make paraplegic sex more accessible is by incorporating sex aids into your intimate encounters. After you’ve communicated with your partner about your interest in sex accessibility aids, you can explore your options together and find something that excites you both.
For instance, IntimateRider offers our high-quality and sturdy IntimateRider sex chair and RiderMate positioning devices. Our equipment fully supports you or your partner as the adaptive aid encourages a natural thrusting movement. By integrating sex accessibility aids into your intimate moments, you can achieve a greater range of motion without fear of injury, discomfort, or limitation. To add more variety to your SCI sex, we also offer the Romance Set or Adventure Set.

Build Intimacy with IntimateRider Today!

At IntimateRider, we are committed to making sex safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of physical ability. As a company founded by a C6-7 quadriplegic, we understand the challenges and joys of navigating intimate relationships when you, your partner, or both of you have a disability.
To learn more about IntimateRider and how to navigate sex with a disability, check out our blog or contact us today! We are here to support you and are excited to offer solutions that can change your life forever.