One of the most important aspects to remember when discussing the topic of sex and disability is that people with disabilities are sexual beings. Oftentimes, people assume that those with disabilities have no sexual desires or needs and tend to treat them as children or victims in need of protection. In reality, the majority of…
Tag: brain
Parkinson’s Disease and Sexual Dysfunction
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the most common motor related disorder worldwide.1-3 PD belongs to a group of motor-related conditions known as Parkinsonism4 and is characterized by a loss of dopamine producing nerve cells called dopaminergenic neurons and the development of inclusions known as “Lewy bodies” in the brain.2,4…
The Neurobiology of Romantic Love
Romantic love is one of the most universal human experiences. More than 20 years ago, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher studied 166 societies and found evidence of romantic love in 147 of them.1 According to Richard Schwartz, associate professor of psychiatry at MacLean Hospital, romantic love must be wired into our basic biological nature due to…
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.1 A host of different strains of bacteria can cause meningitis, and people are more susceptible to certain strains at certain ages.1 Oftentimes, people carry the contagious bacteria, but do not show symptoms. However, if the bacteria break…
Sex and Ecstasy
There are many reasons why one might seek out illegal drugs. For many people, taking illegal drugs is a method of escaping reality; of seeing, feeling, and thinking differently; and of exploring the world they know from an altered perspective. Some take drugs for the purpose of fitting into social settings, some to cope with…
Sex and Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine (N-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-2-amine), also known as meth, crystal, chalk, and ice, is a psychoactive substance that stimulates the central nervous system when ingested. It belongs to a drug class called “psychomotor stimulants,” as it produces increased energy and attention.1 It is infrequently prescribed by clinicians to treat the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but…
Oral Sex
Oral sex is a type of sexual activity involving the use of the mouth, lips, and tongue to stimulate the vulva, penis, or anus of one’s partner.1 Some people do not enjoy oral sex at all, while others prefer it over any other sexual behavior. Despite its opponents, this sexual activity has become increasingly popular…
Sexual Headaches
Overview Sexual headaches are severe headaches that develop in the midst of sexual activity, including during masturbation and orgasm. Other names for this condition are benign sex headache, benign vascular sexual headache, coital cephalalgia, coital headache, orgasmic cephalalgia, and orgasmic headache.1 Although sexual headaches are usually benign, they may be an indicator of a more serious…