Sexual health experiences and care utilization of males with cystic fibrosis

Traci M Kazmerski; Olivia M Stransky; Catherine E Wright; Ishaan Jathal; Asher Prangley; Vin Tangpricha; Raksha Jain; Sigrid Ladores Barrett; Kara S Hughan; Natalie E West; Jennifer L Taylor-Cousar; Gregory S Sawicki

doi:10.1016/j.jcf.2025.09.010

Sexual health experiences and care utilization of males with cystic fibrosis

J Cyst Fibros. 2026 Jan;25(1):92-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2025.09.010. Epub 2025 Oct 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; CONVERGE, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: traci.kazmerski@chp.edu.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; CONVERGE, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
³ CONVERGE, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁵ Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Veterans Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA.
⁶ Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
⁷ University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Nursing, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
⁸ Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁹ National Jewish Health, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Pulmonary, Denver, CO, USA.
¹⁰ Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 41058337
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2025.09.010

Abstract

Background: Males with cystic fibrosis (MwCF) face many sexual health concerns that have been understudied. We compared sexual health experiences and care utilization of MwCF to the general population and defined CF-related considerations and care preferences.

Methods: We surveyed MwCF aged ≥15 years and compared results to the United States National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG;n = 5206 15-49-year-old males). We used descriptive statistics and adjusted linear and logistic regression analyses for comparisons.

Results: A total of 532 MwCF (mean age 35.3 years) participated. Over 75 % of MwCF reported never using a condom. Among those sexually active with ≥2 partners in the prior year, 36 % of 15-49-year-old MwCF reported never using condoms vs. 16 % of NSFG males (p < 0.001). Thirty-two percent of MwCF reported having ever been tested for sexually transmitted infections(STIs). Among MwCF, 8 % had ever received information from a healthcare provider about HIV/AIDS, 14 % about other STIs, and 18 % about condom use. MwCF reported an average pubertal onset of 13.2 ± 1.7 years with the majority reporting undergoing puberty at the same time or earlier than their peers. MwCF reported minimal hypogonadism symptoms; 36 % ever had their testosterone measured and 10 % were diagnosed with hypogonadism. Eighty-two percent of MwCF considered their CF team their main health provider and 45 % reported no primary care provider.

Conclusion: MwCF report suboptimal STI prevention and counseling compared to males in the general population, highlighting an urgent need to encourage sexual health counseling and care in the CF model and partnerships with primary care providers and other specialists.

Keywords: Care utilization; Cystic fibrosis; Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; Fertility; Hypogonadism; Infertility; Males with cystic fibrosis; Sexual health; Sexual health counseling; Sti prevention; Testicular cancer; Urinary incontinence.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Condoms / statistics & numerical data
Cystic Fibrosis* / complications
Cystic Fibrosis* / epidemiology
Cystic Fibrosis* / psychology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / statistics & numerical data
Sexual Behavior* / psychology
Sexual Behavior* / statistics & numerical data
Sexual Health* / statistics & numerical data
Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / diagnosis
Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / epidemiology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases* / prevention & control
United States / epidemiology
Young Adult