Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Ij4Np7YmIlc   A British meta-analysis of 21 studies and 4.4 million persons warns that adults who had been born prematurely are less likely than their full term peers to form romantic relationships, enjoy sex, or pursue parenthood.  These results were just published online in the journal JAMA Network Open.   Those born at 37 weeks or earlier or with low birth weights were 28% less likely to have experienced a true love partnership, 57% less likely to have had sexual intercourse, and 22% less likely to have become a parent.  Those born even earlier at 32 weeks or less were that much less likely to form relationships and 3 times less likely to have sex and become parents.   If you are a parents of  preterm baby who will likely become a somewhat shy child and adolescent, be sure to encourage the child to foster close relationships as they mature.  This will oppose these reported tendencies so that your chil can have a fulfilling love life and, in time, a family.   Marina Mendonça, Ayten