SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES IN CHILDREN WITH MYELOMENINGOCELE

Recent advancements in surgical and medical therapies have improved th e life expectancy of children with myelomeningocele. Yet, there has be en a contrasting lack of improvement with regards to sexual function a nd reproductive issues that continue to infantilize this population. T his article identifies five major risk factors that contribute to thes e delays which invariably lead to irreversible emotional trauma if the y are not addressed early in childhood. Adequate psychosexual educatio n of myelomeningocele patients and their families is a tremendous soci etal challenge. But, only with education will there be trends away fro m policies of isolation to those that reinforce community integration of the physically disabled.