Body Image and Sexual Interests in Adolescents and Young Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome

The study examined 27 adolescents and young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) to assess their satisfaction with physical and sexual development, romantic and sexual experiences, and aspirations regarding marriage. It found a significant negative correlation between IQ and body image, and a positive correlation between IQ and interest in dating. About half of the participants had romantic experiences, and most males and 64% of females wished to marry. Seventy-seven percent of males desired hormonal treatment to increase phallic size, while only 43% of females wanted hormonal medication for regular menstruation. There was no correlation between hormone levels and sexual interests. The study concluded that despite hypogonadism, PWS young adults showed interest in sexual and romantic issues, highlighting the need for personalized sexual guidance and hormone replacement recommendations.