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

Background: This study aimed to describe and compare the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care utilization among young women with cystic fibrosis (CF) with the general United States (U.S.) population. Methods: Women with CF ages 15-24. years from five geographically diverse U.S. CF centers participated in a survey investigating SRH. Results were summarized and compared to a nationally representative sample of young women aged 15-24 who participated in the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) using logistic regression to adjust for confounders. Results: A total of 188 women with CF (19.7. ±. 2.7. years) completed the survey; data were compared to 1997 NSFG respondents (19.6. ±. 0.10. years). Women with CF had lower lifetime rates of ever obtaining a Pap smear or pelvic exam (26% vs. 57%; p <. 0.001) and similar rates of HPV vaccination (44% vs. 43%; p = 0.64) compared to NSFG respondents. Thirty-seven percent of women with CF reported seeking contraception and <. 10% reported contraceptive counseling, STI testing/counseling, or pregnancy testing in their lifetime. In the prior 12. months, 41% of NSFG respondents reported seeking contraception, 24% received contraceptive counseling, 22% STI testing/counseling, and 23% pregnancy testing. A minority of women with CF received or discussed SRH care in the CF setting, although 66% wanted to discuss SRH with their CF team. Conclusions: Young women with CF report low rates of SRH care utilization and desire SRH discussions in the CF setting. Interventions should target improved SRH care delivery and encourage patient-provider communication around SRH in the CF care setting.