Original articleReproductive and sexual health in males with cystic fibrosis: a case for health professional education and training
Section snippets
Subjects
Health care providers (respiratory physicians, respiratory fellows, and nurse-practitioners) who regularly provide specialist CF care at the four CF centers in the state of Massachusetts (Children’s Hospital, New England Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester) were identified and invited to participate in this study. Thirty-two practitioners, consisting of 19 respiratory physicians (59%), ten respiratory fellows
Results
Twenty-seven of the 32 health care providers (84%) believe that the CF center, not the primary care provider, has the main responsibility of informing males about reproductive and sexual health issues as they relate to CF.
Twenty-one health care providers reported informing parents of newly diagnosed male infants with CF of likely infertility soon after diagnosis. Ten reported they did not again talk to parents about reproductive and sexual health unless specifically asked. Seven reported first
Discussion
This study suggests that, among these health care providers, there is consensus with the recent recommendations when it comes to the importance of discussing infertility with adolescent males with CF. However, a more variable practice was reported when it comes to discussion of the other recommended topics (6) ranging from 50% who routinely reassure men about normal sexual performance to only 3% of health care providers who report they discuss small-volume ejaculate with adolescents with CF.
The
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2021, Journal of Cystic FibrosisCitation Excerpt :As many view their subspecialist as a primary care provider [20], men may rely on the CF team for SRH counseling and referrals. Unfortunately, CF providers may lack training and comfort in SRH [4,21]. In a survey of men with CF, one-third preferred to hear about fertility issues from their CF team, one-third from parents, and the remainder from a combination of parents, providers, and educational materials [16].
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Dr. Sawyer is currently Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Australia.