Adolescent sexuality and disability

All human beings are sexual from birth to death and all adolescents, with or without chronic illness or disability, must incorporate appropriate concepts of sexuality into their process of development from child to adult. This chapter reviews normal adolescent development with specific reference to sexuality. Potential effects of chronic illness and disability on this process are reviewed, including coital behavior, sexual abuse, sexual dysfunction, and sexual offending. Management of sexual issues in chronically ill or disabled adolescents is considered, including comments about gynecologic needs of disabled girls.