Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder that can shorten people's lifespan. It can also occur in people of any race or ethnicity. This disease was first described as a clinical and pathological entity in the 1930s. The number of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) has increased, with more than half of people with CF being adults. As life expectancy and quality of life improve, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has become an increasingly important aspect of patient-centered care.
Methods: In the forthcoming systematic review, the required data were collected using keywords and citing valid databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and ProQuest. The statistical population includes all studies conducted until 2022 in the field of The effect of sexual health in people with cystic fibrosis on fertility. After reviewing the relevant findings and evaluating the quality of the data, 17 articles were analyzed.
Results: Pregnancy in women with cystic fibrosis is more likely to be successful if planned because poor maternal outcomes are more common in conditions of unstable respiratory health.
Puberty is associated with worsening health status in CF. A few years after puberty, the rate of pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) increased in adolescent girls and boys, but was observed to a greater extent in females than in males. The interplay of disease-specific risk factors, such as drug interactions, gastrointestinal absorption, CFRLD, CFRD, bone health, and frequent use of intravenous access devices for antibiotics, may complicate contraceptive decisions for women with CF. Men with CF are at risk for hypogonadism due to frequent illness, stress, lower nutritional status, and medications such as glucocorticoids or opioids. Studies have reported the prevalence of hypogonadism in women with CF. There are aspects of CF that are directly related to CFTR dysfunction and its downstream consequences that may impair sexual function in people with CF, such as dyspareunia related to vaginal dryness, body image caused by testosterone deficiency, low body weight. , and cough and shortness of breath during sexual intercourse.
Conclusion: Identifying relevant SRH specialists with experience with people with cystic fibrosis can be difficult. Education of primary care providers about cystic fibrosis is often neglected, and cystic fibrosis physicians see themselves as providing comprehensive care to their patients. Multidisciplinary teams should optimize the SRH of people with cystic fibrosis, whether they want to become pregnant or not. Regardless of age, this is enhanced by engaging and educating primary care providers about the SRH needs of individual patients. It will also benefit from the development of specialized networks that include urology, medical genetics, gynecology and IVF, obstetrics and gynecology, and genetics. The CF care team now has increasing responsibility for diagnosing and managing issues related to sexuality and fertility, such as menstruation and fertility, sexual activity, contraception, planning, and menopause. Other registries and clinical trial data are urgently needed to inform better care related to these issues. CF providers should coordinate sexual and reproductive health care with general gynecologists and relevant specialists in reproductive endocrinology, maternal-fetal medicine, and family planning to maximize the reproductive health of women with CF.
Keywords: sexual health, cystic fibrosis, fertility