An Exploration of Sexual Health Education Among Individuals with Skeletal Dysplasia (Dwarfism)

ABSTRACT

Using quantitative and qualitative measures, this study examined reports of sexual health education among 300 individuals with skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism). Many participants felt their sex education neglected their specific minority needs. These needs may include body image concerns, medical considerations in sex or pregnancy, and logistics of physically having sex. Medical professionals may provide more sexual health education than mental health providers, but all may ignore or minimize the sexual health needs of this population. Health care systems and communities of individuals with skeletal dysplasia need to work together to increase their access to sexual health education.

KEYWORDS:

• Dwarfism
• education
• minority
• sexual
• skeletal dysplasia

Author note

No conflicts of interest need to be reported.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank all of the participants for their generous time and kind support of this project.