Pregnancy in Cystic Fibrosis

Pursuing parenthood with cystic fibrosis: Reproductive health and parenting concerns in individuals with cystic fibrosis

“…Despite important progress in research related to reproductive health in CF, significant gaps in knowledge remain. While research in CF has demonstrated an essentially neutral impact of pregnancy on health , the data indicate that individuals with CF lack important CF‐specific reproductive health knowledge . Women with CF have exhibited limited awareness and misconceptions of the physical and psychosocial implications of pregnancy and parenthood with this chronic illness; they have also described inadequacies of reproductive health communication from CF providers, including the delayed introduction of reproductive health education, as well as disheartening disapproval of childbearing by CF providers .…”

Sexual and reproductive health care utilization and preferences reported by young women with cystic fibrosis

“…Furthermore, these medications may improve fertility in women with CF through changes in cervical mucus and have unknown teratogenic effects [21,22]. As the majority of young women with CF desire to have future children and an increasing number are becoming pregnant [4,8], the provision of effective contraception and counseling to this population is key to aide them in family planning.…”

“…Young women with cystic fibrosis (CF) not only experience typical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns, but also face a variety of disease-specific issues, including delayed puberty, high rates of yeast infections due to frequent antibiotic use, urinary incontinence (UI), sexual dysfunction, unique considerations regarding contraceptive choice, decreased fertility, and adverse effects of pregnancy [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Advances in CF therapy and disease management over the last 25 years have led to dramatic increases in survival, with over half of all people with CF now over the age of 18 [8].…”

Cystic fibrosis and fertility

“…In such instances, counseling services including psychiatry and social work should be considered [56]. They should also be aware of the risk that: their child might be born premature, they may eventually need a lung transplant, their child could be without a parent at a very young age and that raising the child may be difficult if their CF progresses.…”