Post-9/11 veterans face a host of physical and emotional trauma, along a high rate of medication usage. Combined, these factors place young veterans at a much higher risk of dealing with sexual dysfunction.
For couples, a healthy sexual relationship can be a source of joy and resilience throughout life. However, that relationship can become difficult to maintain in light of the issues many veterans face when returning from combat.
According to at least two studies of veterans who served after 9/11, about one in three suffer from erectile dysfunction or other forms of sexual dysfunction. The risk is three times higher among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The causes of the problems are multifactorial. Medication can be an issue. The average American veteran uses 17 prescription medications, some of which are known to affect sexuality. Most psychiatric drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft, are associated with lower sexual interest, difficulty becoming aroused and difficulty achieving orgasm.
Additionally, PTSD is strongly associated with sexual dysfunction. Among other issues, PTSD sufferers can find it difficult to be intimate with others, sexually or platonically. Although treatment for PTSD will sometimes resolve sexual problems as well, sometimes specific treatment aimed at improving sexual function is necessary.
Finally, many health care providers fail to discuss or treat sexual problems. Health care providers are more likely to detect problems when they take the time to discuss the effects of combat service on the likelihood of later sexual dysfunction with patients, rather than briefly asking about whether or not the veteran has erectile dysfunction.
There are a number of effective treatments available for sexual dysfunction. Treatment for sexual dysfunction includes medication, therapy and even surgery. There are also adaptive devices available for veterans who have injuries that would affect their sex lives, including missing arms or legs.
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans lawyer, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
