Hypersexuality in stroke.

Abstract

Hyposexuality is a common problem in stroke patients. Some stroke patients, however, may present with hypersexuality. We report three stroke patients who demonstrated hypersexuality and deviant sexual behavior after stroke. Abnormal sexual behavior was noted by members of the stroke rehabilitation team while the patients were in hospital. Details of pre- and poststroke sexual activity were obtained from patients and their spouses. All three patients had temporal lobe lesions on computerized tomography, and all had a history of poststroke seizure activity. The 53-year-old man reported poststroke increase in libido and coital frequency with a tendency towards priapism. The two women (47 and 55 years old) exhibited deviant sexual behavior, mood changes, and hyperphagia. The exact cause of these behavior changes is unknown but they may be related to temporal lobe involvement. Hypersexuality has previously been reported in animals and in patients with temporal lobe seizures.