Subject index

Contraception, pregnancy and sexual health

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Long term health conditions >> Women 16-18 >> Sarah - Interview 29 >> She needs regular blood tests to monitor her liver function because the drug she takes can damage the liver. Also she can't drink much alcohol.

Sarah was diagnosed with a localised form of a skin condition called morphea in which there are well demarcated plaques of fibrosis restricted to the skin. In her case this affects the right side of her nose and the top of the right side of her forehead. Recently she has had surgery in which fat from her stomach was injected into the right side of her nose and her forehead and the cheekbones. Doctors have explained that she will need several similar operations before they reconstruct her nose an

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Catherine - Interview 02 >> She was made aware of the importance of using contraception when having sex because the drug she takes for her epilepsy carries increased risks of pre

For many years Catherine stayed on a treatment that was not successfully controlling her epilepsy. And as a teenager she didn't know much about the different medications available. In her early twenties her new consultant put her on new medication that has improved the overall management of her condition.

Long term health conditions >> Women 16-18 >> Sarah - Interview 29 >> At the age of thirteen her consultant told her that she couldn't get pregnant while on medication.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Sophie - Interview 15 >> When she was 14 her doctor explained that women with CF could have children. Feels she was a little young for this conversation but was glad to know a

Sophie was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 8 years old. She was taught by her parents to do all her own medications and treatments and encouraged to do sport. She is the Social secretary for her university Netball Cub. Sophie has a positive approach to her condition and says that she lives life to the full.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Catherine - Interview 02 >> She knows that if she does want to get pregnant she will probably have to change her treatment to avoid harming the unborn baby.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Lynn - Interview 28 >> Was devastated when she was told that she would not be able to have children 'naturally' and absolutely delighted when she became pregnant without med

Lynn has lived with chronic pain for the last fourteen years. She experienced the pain before and during her periods. At first health professionals thought that she had endomietrosis. She had several exploratory tests and treatments, but she still does not have a clear diagnosis. She describes her condition as 'a chronic pelvic pain sufferer; or as a chronic lower pain sufferer with a black hole'.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Lynn - Interview 28 >> Took no painkillers for the first 12 weeks of her pregnancy. Worried that her medication might affect the baby and had to stay in bed for much of the

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Lynsey - Interview 14 >> She and her husband would love to have a child and their families are supportive. Feels that if she had a child she would have an extra incentive to l

Lynsey was diagnosed with Cystic fibrosis at birth and says that her parents and now her husband are most supportive. She and her husband would love to have a child and they have discussed all the implications involved in such a decision.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Kate - Interview 19 >> When she was about 18 she was warned that she needed to be careful with contraception. She was also told that her partner should have a genetic test t

Kate was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when she was 4 years old by a new consultant who spotted the symptoms straight away. Previously, she had been misdiagnosed with other conditions such as asthma and a milk allergy. Kate has very few CF related symptoms and although she has had the odd chest infection, she has never required intravenous antibiotics.

Publication date: October 2007 Last updated: February 2012

Review date: February 2014

Various long-term health conditions can occur in young people. We interviewed 30 young people about their experiences of different chronic illnesses. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics on the right hand side of this page, or explore all the interviews by clicking on people's stories below.

Sophie says: “I've had a good weekend despite my lungs not feeling too good. My boyfriend's training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro so we have been hiking!”
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full list of topics

Diagnosis & learning more :

Physical problems, med's & managing your condition :

Life style :

What makes a good doctor and transition issues :

Living with it :

Talking about relationships :

Advice to others :