Despite their physical limitations, women who are paralyzed can become pregnant and have a vaginal birth. While paralyzed men tend to have some difficulty with sexual function, paralyzed women typically continue to menstruate and experience the same level of sexual desire as non-paralyzed women. However, because of the mother's lack of mobility, there is a greater risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery. These include anemia, urinary tract infections, autonomic dysreflexia (an over-stimulation of the nervous system that affects people with spinal cord trauma in particular), and trouble determining when labor is beginning.
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