Since September 11 2001, or "9/11", approximately 2.7 US million service members have served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many thousands have been wounded, with injuries ranging from mild to severe. PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury) have been called the "signature wounds" of war. The psychological injuries of war, PTSD and related co-morbid conditions, lead to feeling isolated from others, which directly affects intimate relationships. TBI (traumatic brain injury) is also a very common injury from these past decades of war. The treatment of PTSD and TBI involves medications that often have sexual side-effects, such as erectile dysfunction and loss of libido, weight gain, ejaculatory delay, and sedation. The bomb blast has been the "signature weapon" of these conflicts. Service members wear helmets and body armor, which covers their torsos. Thus blasts primarily effect the lower exposed areas of the body, including the extremities and pelvic region. Numerous service members have lost one or both legs, and in some cases arms. Because of the blast, many have lost part or all of their genitalia, their penis or testes. This loss directly impacts sexual functioning and fertility. The bomb blast or other weapons may also burn and scar faces and hands. Pain from these injuries and subsequent surgeries is a constant theme. Sexual difficulties contribute to relationship difficulties, domestic violence, and suicide. Less well recognized is the impact of toxic exposures on sexual health. All wars are environmentally dirty. Agent Orange is the best known toxic agent from Vietnam. Anti-malarial agents, used in Iraq and Afghanistan, cause a host of neuropsychiatric effects. Sexual assault is another type of toxic exposure. Thus there are a host of ways that exposure to combat can affect intimacy, sexual functioning and fertility. Fortunately there are many strategies to mitigate these negative effects, which are covered in detail in this book.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Contributors Introduction and Overview 1. A Brief Overview of the Effect of War Injuries on Sexual Health and Intimacy Kathryn Ellis 2. Intimacy versus Isolation: A Psychodynamic Clinical Reflection on Physically Injured Military Patients Joseph Wise 3. The Role of Sympathetic Nervous System in PTSD-related Male Sexual Dysfunction: Clinical Evidence and Related Interventions Eugene Lipov 4. Sexual Health and Intimacy in the Military: A Contextual Framework Glenn Parkinson, Martin Chin 5. Training Health Care Providers to Deal with Sexual Health and Intimacy Issues Hani Miletski 6. Psychosocial Issues Related to Genito-urinary Injury Suzanne Waddingham 7. Strategies, Modifications, and Adaptations for Intimate Relationships and Sexual Activity Kathryn Ellis 8. PTSD and Sexual Intimacy Jennifer Greenberg 9. Side-effects of Medications and Mitigation Strategies John Burger 10. Psychological Aspects of Infertility Post-Injury Laura Covington 11. Understanding Failed Relationships as a Factor Related to Suicide and Suicidal Behavior among Military Personnel Jackie Garrick 12. Intimacy After Intimate Partner Violence Glenna Tinney, April Gerlock 13. Intimacy After Sexual Violence Glenna Tinney, April Gerlock 14. Toxic Exposures from Service in the U.S. Military: Effects on Reproductive and Sexual Health Remington Nevin, Elspeth Cameron Ritchie 15. Genital Injury and the Psychiatric Consult Liaison Service Harold Wain, Lisa Young 16. Evolution of Sexual Trauma Treatment in the Military: Experience of a Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization Program Raymond Lande, Sawsan Ghurani, Cara N. Burton, Kerrie Earley 17. Way Ahead: Reconstructive Transplantation as an Emerging Option for Penile Restoration Sami Tuffaha, Gerald Brandacher, Richard Redett