Subject index

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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 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+ >> Lynn - Interview 28 >> Physical pain can place a lot of strain on a relationship. She felt guilty about affecting the life of her partner.

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 >> Men 24+ >> Clint - Interview 26 >> His HIV makes it difficult to find a partner. He discloses his condition from the start because he does not want to be dishonest like the person who i

Clint was infected with HIV at the age of 17 from a partner and, at the time he lacked any knowledge of HIV. Clint rapidly developed the symptoms of the AIDS defining illnesses. Although it was initially suspected he had cancer (a common kind of presentation for AIDS), he in fact had a positive HIV result.

Long term health conditions >> Women 19-23 >> Sara - Interview 27 >> Her sex life with her boyfriend was difficult for some weeks after a hip operation. Otherwise does not think her arthritis has caused problems for her

Sara was diagnosed in 1990 with Juvenile chronic arthritis. She has had a finger tendon repair & a hip replacement. Current medication Anti-TNF Humira injected 2/month, indometacin, co-codamol & Lansoprazole. Says that with her current medication she has more energy to do things like exercise. She attended a Tai Chi course for people with arthritis and really enjoyed it.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Lara - Interview 03 >> She had a seizure when she was in bed with her boyfriend at his college halls of residence. Was very embarrassed when she realised that he had called

Lara was diagnosed with myoclonic juvenile epilepsy when she was 17 years old. She became depressed and lost her confidence after diagnosis but she wasn't offered counselling. Her nurse has provided her with lots of support. Nowadays she jokes about her epilepsy giving it derogatory names and says that it is one way of coping with it. She has no problem in telling others about her epilepsy.

Long term health conditions >> Women 24+ >> Lara - Interview 03 >> After she had a seizure while having sex with her boyfriend she talked and reassured him that seizures during sex are very uncommon.

Boyfriends, girlfriends and sex

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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