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Published in: Pediatric Surgery International 9/2019

01-09-2019 | Contraception | Original Article

Sexual well-being in adolescent and young adults born with arm: the perspective of the patients

Authors: Stefano Eleuteri, Dalia Aminoff, Fabio Lucidi, Cristiano Violani, Caterina Grano

Published in: Pediatric Surgery International | Issue 9/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

Sexual well-being and sexual functioning are understudied in patients born with ARM. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate sexual history, main fears, and problems encountered during sexual relationships.

Methods

Before participating in a sexual education intervention, 21 adolescents or young adults (12 males; mean 28.8; SD 10.6) born with ARM, answered a ten-item questionnaire specifically developed to evaluate sexual well-being. Percentages and Chi-square were calculated.

Results

52.4% were married/had a partner. The majority (71%) declared that had sexual relationships. Mean age of the first sexual relationship was 18.8 (2.7) and 22.7 (3.8) for males and females, respectively. Females reported both more fear and experience of pain during sexual intercourse, compared to males. Main experienced problems and fears for male patients were loss of feces and premature ejaculation, followed by the fear of lack of erection and managing contraception. Main experienced problems and fears in females were loss of feces, pain, lack of desire, and lack of lubrication. In only few cases, patients asked for advices to a pediatric surgeon or to an adult surgeon specialized in ARM.

Conclusions

Adult and adolescent patients may benefit of andrological/gynecological evaluation, psychological support, and sexual counseling to improve their sexual well-being.
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Metadata
Title
Sexual well-being in adolescent and young adults born with arm: the perspective of the patients
Authors
Stefano Eleuteri
Dalia Aminoff
Fabio Lucidi
Cristiano Violani
Caterina Grano
Publication date
01-09-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Pediatric Surgery International / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 0179-0358
Electronic ISSN: 1437-9813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-019-04507-z

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