Reproductive and sexual health in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

cians, and since enrofloxacin, a related quinolone, was licensed for use in food producing animals in 1994. An antibiotic which could be of crucial importance in the management of some patients must be used with discretion by clinicians and veterinarians to ensure its continued usefulness.Large national epidemics begin small. Killelea et al are not the first to describe how the PHLS's laboratory surveillance of salmonellas has been well ahead in speedily identifying the source of outbreaks in Britain and elsewhere. 4 6-8 Their paper, and the paper by Shohat et al, reminds us that there is a free market in salmonellosis; that international cooperation is essential; that identification and control depends on universal, not selective, surveillance and detailed typing of isolates including molecular methods; and that the PHLS's laboratory surveillance of salmonellosis is second to none.

Only when I Cough? Adults’ Disclosure of Cystic Fibrosis

“…Men with CF are usually infertile and women may also have reduced fertility (Sawyer, 1996). 'Knowing' about infertility is itself a recent phenomenon fuelled by technological advances allowing us greater insight into the body.…”

“…However, the shortage of suitable donor organs in the UK means that half of adults with CF on the transplant list die before donor organs are found (Hodson, 1998;Ryan & Stableforth, 1996). Due to increased survival age, infertility is now an issue for adults with CF; the vast majority of men with CF are infertile (Sawyer, 1996) and IVF therapies have been developed to assist adults to become parents (Silber, Ord, Balmaceda, Patrizio, & Asch, 1990). Although women have a slightly better fertility rate than their male counterparts, their infertility tends to be due to amenorrhoea, brought about by poor general health and weight loss (Penketh, Wise, Mearns, Hodson, & Batten, 1987).…”

Cystic Fibrosis and Infertility

“…Collaboration between the family planning clinician and the teenager's CF physician is recommended (Roberts & Green, 2005). As such, reproductive counselling and reproductive health issues must be carefully addressed to CF adult patients (Hull & Kass, 2000;Sawyer, 1996). CF healthcare providers are an important source of information, and early discussion of sexual and reproductive health is indicated in paediatric settings for the adolescent patients, since a very high interest in future parenting is expressed by CF men.…”

Using the new board game SeCZ TaLK to stimulate the communication on sexual health for adolescents with chronic conditions

“…There are indications that adolescents with chronic conditions and disabilities have more sexual problems [4][5][6][7] and are less satisfied with their sex life than healthy peers [8]. Adolescents with spina bifida and cystic fibrosis reported they were not well informed about general and disease-specific issues of sexual health [9][10][11]. Furthermore, compared to healthy peers, adolescents with chronic conditions often are slow in developing sexual relations [12,13].…”