Effects of Sexual Wellbeing
- People with this condition have reduced sexual activity.
- Sexual satisfaction is also reduced.
- One is affected emotionally, thus the quality of sex is low.
- In severe cases, some people choose sexual inactivity.
- Sexual inactivity is common due to different health complications.
Osteogenesis imperfecta causes bones to be weak and brittle, and thus they can break easily. Therefore, people with this condition have reduced sexual activity for the fear of bone breakage. In a study conducted by Tosi et al. (2015), most adults with severe cases of the condition had minimal sexual activity. Additionally, the few that were sexually active, reported low satisfaction levels. Living with a lasting health condition is emotionally draining, and thus patients have a low-quality sex life. In conclusion, people suffering from severe cases of the condition are either sexually inactive or do not enjoy sex.
Access Health Insurance and Health Care
- Managing osteogenesis imperfecta is expensive.
- Access to healthcare depends on the economic status of the patient.
- Patients from poor backgrounds cannot access quality care.
- Insurance coverage is available for those who can afford it.
- Those that cannot afford private insurance coverage depend on programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
- Access to insurance coverage is not limited by having the condition.
The cost of osteogenesis imperfecta is high due to the need to fix broken bones frequently. Therefore, accessing quality healthcare is financially demanding. The economic burden can be relieved through having health insurance coverage. However, the ability to afford insurance depends on one’s economic status. As such, some individuals have private health insurance coverage. On the other hand, those that cannot afford such coverage depend on programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. However, accessing healthcare insurance is not limited by the preexistence of this condition according to the Affordable Care Act (Glied & Jackson, 2017).
Susceptibility to Engage in Substance Abuse
- People suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta are in constant pain.
- They are likely to abuse drugs in pain management.
- In severe cases, one may not lead a productive life.
- Drugs can be abused due to isolation.
- Emotional anguish exposes patients to substance abuse.
- Lack of proper psychological, emotional, and financial support exposes one to drug abuse.
People living with severe cases of osteogenesis imperfecta are normally in constant bone and other body parts pain. Therefore, one is exposed to drug misuse as a way of pain management. Some of the commonly abused drugs, such as opiates, are good pain relievers. As such, the need to eliminate or relieve pain can lead to abuse of such drugs. In some cases, patients of this condition suffer from emotional and psychological distress due to different factors associated with the disease. They are thus exposed to drug abuse as a coping mechanism for their distress.
Prenatal Care and Childbearing
- People suffering from mild cases of osteogenesis imperfecta have normal prenatal experiences.
- However, few cases of complications may be reported.
- Such cases include loose joints, increased bone pain, and reduced mobility.
- In severe cases, heart and lung problems, premature delivery, or pregnancy termination.
- The caesarian section is the preferred mode of delivery.
- The condition is genetic, and thus offspring may inherit it.
In mild cases of osteogenesis imperfecta, pregnant women have normal prenatal care experiences. However, in some instances, few complications, such as loose joints, increased bone pain, and reduced mobility may be encountered. In severe cases where patients have short stature and affected spine curvature, lungs and heart problems may be experiencing (Yimgang & Shapiro, 2016). Depending on the nature of the problems, premature delivery or pregnancy termination may be considered. In most cases, delivery is through a caesarian section. Finally, the condition is genetic and thus children may inherit the gene mutations associated with it.
References
Glied, S., & Jackson, A. (2017). The future of the Affordable Care Act and insurance coverage. American Journal of Public Health, 107(4), 538-540.
Tosi, L. L., Oetgen, M. E., Floor, M. K., Huber, M. B., Kennelly, A. M., McCarter, R. J., … McKiernan, F. E. (2015). Initial report of the osteogenesis imperfecta adult natural history initiative. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 10(146), 1-12. doi.10.1186/s13023-015-0362-2.
Yimgang, D. P., & Shapiro, J. R. (2016). Pregnancy outcomes in women with osteogenesis imperfecta. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 29(14), 2358-2362.