Adults with OI can have positive sexual experience: study

A positive sexual experience is feasible among individuals suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic condition caused by an impairment in type I collagen production, suggests a study.

OI may result in symptoms, including bone fragility and frequent fractures, bone deformities, and growth abnormalities, according to the investigators, who conducted this cross-sectional study among 300 adults with self-reported OI diagnoses.

Eligible participants completed self-report measures of sexual esteem, sexual desire, sexual pain, anxiety, depression, and health severity perception (HSP).

Sexual esteem was found to significantly vary between the type of OI and individuals with mild vs moderate HSP. Sexual esteem with sexual pain was also significantly associated with emotional distress.

In a hierarchical regression model, HSP contributed a significant and unique predictive value to sexual esteem. Notably, a negative association was observed between sexual desire and sexual esteem.

“Individuals with OI can have positive sexual experiences which may be moderated by self-reported OI type, HSP, and emotional distress,” the authors said. “[T]hese findings provide understanding of what degree different facets of OI affect the sexual well-being of adults with OI.”

The authors also suggested the consideration of both OI type and HSP in understanding sexual well-being and stressed the need for further research on how OI affects sexual health in these individuals.