144 Women with Disabilities
Sexuality
and Sexual
Health
➤ Be careful not
to let other people
take advantage of
you. It can be difficult
to protect yourself
against violence and
abuse.
313
violence
181
sexual health
Many people believe that women with disabilities cannot
have, or should not have, sexual feelings. They are not
expected to want to have close, loving relationships or to
become parents. But women with disabilities do have a
desire for closeness and sexual relations just like anyone else.
If you were born with a disability, or it happened when
you were very young, you may have a hard time believing you
are sexually attractive. Talking with other women who have
disabilities about their own fears, and how they overcame them,
is often the best way to learn to feel differently about yourself.
But remember to have patience. It takes time to change beliefs
you have held for a long time.
If you are a woman with a new disability, you may already
be used to thinking of yourself as a sexual person. But you
may not realize that you can continue to enjoy sex. You may
think you are not sexually attractive any more and feel sad that
sex may be different now.
All women with disabilities can be helped by reading the
same information about sexuality that women who are not
disabled read. Try to talk about sexuality with them and with
trusted teachers, health care workers, and other women with
disabilities.
You and your partner will both need to experiment with
how to please each other. For example, if you have no feeling
in your hands or genitals, during sex you can find other body
parts that will create sexual feeling, such as an ear, or breast,
or neck. This can also help if a disability has made sex in the
vagina uncomfortable. You can also try different positions, like
lying on your side, or sitting on the edge of a chair. If you and
your partner can talk together
honestly, a satisfying sexual
relationship can happen.
But remember that you
do not have to settle
for less than you
would like. You
do not have
to have
sex with
someone
who does
not care
about
you.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012