International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes
ISPAD 2014 | 40th Anniversary |
241
P153
Sexuality and contraceptive use in Greek teenagers with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM):
preliminary report
B. Kandyla
1
, A. Tsitsika
2
, H. Tzavara
2
, E. Karanasios
1
, K. Karavanaki
1
1
Diabetes Unit, Second University, 'P. &
Α
. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian
University of Athens School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Athens, Greece,
2
Adolescent
Health Unit (
Α
.H.U.), Second University, 'P. &
Α
. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, National and
Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Athens, Greece
Introduction:
It has been reported that adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may differ
from their healthy peers in respect to sexual activity and contraceptive use.
Aim:
Study of sexual behaviors and contraceptive usage in T1DM adolescents and healthy peers.
Material and method:
Of 69 adolescents with a mean±SD age of 16.3±2.0 years, 23 T1DM
adolescents (mean age 16.8±2.7 years, disease duration 6.68±3.2 years and HbA1c:9.01±1.9%) were
compared to 46 healthy peers (controls), matched for age, gender and socio-economic level.
Anonymous self-completed questionnaires were used to evaluate the source, frequency of sexual
education, sexual behaviors and contraceptive use.
Results:
The T1DM adolescents were less inclined to ask their parents for information, related to
sexual education (52.2%) compared to the controls (22.2%) (p=0.048), even when thinking adults
were the appropriate source of information (59.1%vs26.7%)(p=0.014). 73.7% of T1DM adolescents
(male/female:12/2) reported as having had sexual intercourse compared to 63.2% of controls
(p=0.636). The T1DM adolescents reported initiation of sexual activity at age 16.2±2.2 years, while the
controls at age 15±2.1 years (p=0.193).
The majority of the T1DM teenagers (35.7%) had 2 sexual partners, while the majority of the control
group teenagers (32.1%) had more than 4 (p=0.207). With respect to condom use, 57.1% of T1DM
teenagers used it in every sexual contact, versus 41.4% of controls(p=0.124). 78.6% of T1DM
adolescents and the 63% of control group, used it during their first intercourse, but 37% of the controls
refused to respond (p=0.020). Intoxication by alcohol prior to sexual contact was reported by 7.1% of
T1DM teenagers versus 25% of controls.
Conclusions:
T1DM adolescents showed no appreciable differences, regarding sexual experience,
althought there is a tendency to a later onset of sexual activity and more responsible attitudes,
compared to their healthy peers.
