Fertility and history of sexual abuse at 10-year follow-up of adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Objective: We studied fertility and history of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a representative group of anorexia nervosa (AN) cases.

Method: Fifty-one adolescent-onset AN cases recruited after community screening and 51 matched comparison cases were interviewed 10 years after reported AN onset, at mean age 24 years, regarding children, miscarriages, and fertility problems. They completed anonymously the Finkelhor self-report questionnaire regarding history of CSA.

Results: There were few fertility problems in our AN population. There was a tendency towards more subjects in the AN group to give birth to a child (10 AN and 4 comparison mothers). The prevalence of CSA was equal between groups. For example, 6% in each group had experienced CSA before the age of 10 years, and 14% of the AN and 12% of the comparison cases reported CSA.

Discussion: Infertility and history of CSA may not be overrepresented in a population-based AN sample at long-term follow-up.