Optimizing sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan in people with cystic fibrosis

Natalie E West; Traci M Kazmerski; Jennifer L Taylor-Cousar; Vin Tangpricha; Kelsie Pearson; Moira L Aitken; Raksha Jain

doi:10.1002/ppul.25703

Optimizing sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan in people with cystic fibrosis

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2022 Feb;57 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S89-S100. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25703. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Authors

Natalie E West¹, Traci M Kazmerski^{2

3}, Jennifer L Taylor-Cousar⁴, Vin Tangpricha⁵, Kelsie Pearson⁶, Moira L Aitken⁷, Raksha Jain⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
³ Center for Women's Health Research and Innovation (CWHRI), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁴ Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipids, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
⁶ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Development Network, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA.
⁷ Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
⁸ Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Abstract

With improved therapies, people with cystic fibrosis are living longer and healthier lives and increasingly have questions surrounding their sexual and reproductive health. This article will summarize the important issues of which providers should be aware during the lifespan of people with cystic fibrosis, including puberty, adulthood, and menopause. A wide range of sexual and reproductive health topics are addressed such as puberty, transgender and gender nonbinary identities, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, hypogonadism, sexual functioning, cyclical hemoptysis, and urinary incontinence. We discuss gaps in knowledge and current evidence as well as management strategies to optimize care. Our goal is to support providers to enable them to give comprehensive care throughout the lifespan of people with cystic fibrosis.

Keywords: cystic fibrosis; hypogonadism; menopause; puberty; sexual and reproductive health.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Cystic Fibrosis* / complications
Cystic Fibrosis* / therapy
Female
Humans
Longevity
Reproductive Health
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Health*