Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42012126›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuromuscular diseases2026

Moving beyond puberty: Listening to lived experience to expand sexual and reproductive healthcare for adults with muscular dystrophy.

Jisoo Kim, Usman A Ahmed, Aleah Pagan, Robin E Margolin, Alyssa Rohan, Nessa Tantivit, Elizabeth R Boskey, Nora E Renthal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuromuscular diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jisoo KimDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Usman A AhmedDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Aleah PaganDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Robin E MargolinDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Alyssa RohanDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6074-4405
Nessa TantivitDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Elizabeth R BoskeyDepartment of Surgery, Division of Gynecology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4982-1323
Nora E RenthalDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8186-4462

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Youth and adults with muscular dystrophy (MD) face sexual and reproductive healthcare barriers shaped by the physical, social, and emotional impacts of a progressive neuromuscular condition. Despite sexual health being central to well-being, it remains understudied, as the needs of disabled individuals are often overlooked due to misconceptions and false narratives of disinterest. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with thirty adults with various MD types, exploring their sexual and reproductive healthcare experiences. Using a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis, we identified six themes related to barriers in care: patient discomfort discussing sexual health and insecurity about disability or inexperience; provider discomfort and overemphasis on medical puberty; lack of private, confidential time with providers; unaddressed fertility and reproductive concerns; provider invalidation or assumptions about sexual or romantic interest; and reliance on self-education from pornography or online sources. We also identified six themes for actionable improvements: patients desired increased provider-initiated conversations; practical sexual health information including hygiene and self-care; dating and relationship guidance; mental health support and resources to counter negative media messages; education on safe options for sexual fulfillment; and community and peer connection resources. Overall, participants expressed a strong desire for proactive, confidential, and affirming care addressing the full spectrum of sexual health needs while integrating mental health and peer support. Findings highlight the urgent need for inclusive, accessible, and holistic sexual and reproductive healthcare tailored to the lived experiences of people with MD.

Indexed as

disabilityDuchenne muscular dystrophyendocrinologymuscular dystrophypubertyquality of lifereproductive healthcaresexuality

Identifiers

PMID42012126
PMCPMC13438932

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.