Abstract
Purpose
Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may differ from their healthy peers with respect to sexual behavior. The aim of this study was to explore sexual behaviors of T1DM adolescents in comparison with healthy peers.
Methods
The study population included 174 adolescents, of whom 58 T1DM adolescents (mean ± SD age 16.3 ± 2.0 years, disease duration 6.7 ± 3.5 years and HbA1c:8.0 ± 1.3%) and 116 healthy controls (matching 1:2 for school, class and gender). Anonymous, self-reported questionnaires were used to evaluate sexual education and behaviour.
Results
T1DM adolescents had a sexual experience at a significantly lower percentage than healthy peers (74.1% vs 87.4%, p = 0.033). The average age of first sexual intercourse was similar for both groups (15.9 ± 1.8 years vs 15.2 ± 1.5 years for T1DM and controls respectively). In the control group boys had sexual intercourse twice more frequently than girls and in the T1DM group three times more frequently. Maternal education level (β=-1.47, p = 0.014) and HbA1c (β=-0.63, p = 0.49) were independently negatively associated with the age at 1st sexual experience and 1st sexual intercourse (maternal education: β=-1.53, p = 0.003, HbA1c: β=-0.92, p < 0.001) respectively.
Conclusion
A significant percentage of the T1DM adolescents had sexual experience or intercourse. However, fewer T1DM adolescents had sexual experience compared to their healthy peers with girls having less frequently sexual intercourse than boys. Maternal education level and glycaemic control were negatively associated with age at sexual debut. The above findings underline the need for early sexual education of adolescents with or without diabetes for the prevention of unfavourable outcomes.