Authors: Hradilová Iva, Hladíková Petra, Hloušková Petra, Leszkowová Iva, Sliwková Danuta, Dundáčková Sylvie, Vatěrová Hana, Sadílková Aneta.

In the Czech Republic, women with spinal cord injuries make up a significantly smaller group than men, namely 26.3% of the total number of people with spinal cord injury (Kříž et all 20171*) Although it cannot be said that any group predominates, the overall trend of spinal cord injury is shifting to an older age. This is associated with changes in an approach and also with the opening of new topics within the framework of direct work with clients. A series of articles entitled Woman Intimately was primarily created as a reaction to the lack of comprehensive information from the intimate field in the various stages of a woman's life. It was specifically prepared for women in wheelchairs.

During the years 2021 and 2022, a series of articles on the topic of Woman Intimately was published in the magazine of the Paraple Centre. Each article of the series always focused on a particular female intimate topic, which was analysed from different points of view by a permanent team of authors and therapists of the Paraple Centre. The team consisted of: a general nurse, a psychologist and a psychotherapist, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, a movement therapist, a nutrition therapist, herbalists, and in several cases a doctor or other specialist. The client’s testimonies and stories were also very important.

The topics that were processed individually were: Self-care, Menstruation, Preparation for pregnancy and pregnancy, Childbirth and the puerperium, Menopause. Other topics concerning the intimate area, such as sexuality or the issue of motherhood, were prepared separately in other publications of the Paraple Centre.

The combination of different perspectives and approaches has offered women with spinal cord injuries a comprehensive view and a wide range of solutions. For example, the topic Menstruation, one of the topics which is still a taboo in the society, provided answers to questions about menstruation management, differences in bowel movements, changes in experience and psyche, the possibility of influencing menstrual pain through yoga, working with own body or using herbs, as well as an overview of available aids or pitfalls of their use and much more.

Intimate women's issues are still a taboo among our clients. Consequently, we perceive working with them as essential. It is important for us to raise the awareness of both women with spinal cord injuries and the general professional public.

Do you have any questions or want to share your story with us? Feel free to contact us

Email: Iva.hradilova@paraple.cz

1 Kriz J, Kulakovska M, Davidova H, Silova M and Kobesova A. Incidence of acute spinal cord injury in the Czech Republic: a prospective epidemiological study 2006–2015. Spinal Cord 2017; 1-5.