Adults living with CF
People with cystic fibrosis are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. This brings exciting new opportunities to the lives of adults living with CF, as well as new matters to be addressed to ensure optimal health and well-being.
Reproductive health
As a result of new treatments like Trikafta, starting a family is a reality for more people with CF. Both men and women with CF can have different challenges with conceiving naturally, but many can have biological children through assisted reproductive technology (ART). If you have CF, having a baby can have an impact on your health, so it’s important to speak to your CF team if you are planning to become pregnant.
Resources and support are available to help navigate fertility challenges and make informed decisions about reproductive health.
For more information on fertility and cystic fibrosis, view a recent CF Canada webinar series on Fertility Issues for men and women with CF. And check out St Michael’s Hospital's resource on cystic fibrosis and reproductive health:
Parenting with CF
With the recent advancements in treatments and care, many adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) meet several of life’s many milestones, including having children. Becoming a parent is both challenging and rewarding and parenting with CF is an additional challenge. You have the added responsibility of caring for your CF as well as for a child. By learning more about what to expect as a parent with CF, you can find new ways to balance your own health with the time it takes to care for your child.
Your cystic fibrosis care team is an excellent source of support, advice and tips. They can help you assess what support you will need to maintain your health and enjoy your family. To be the best parent you can be, you need to be healthy, so take care of yourself.
Many parents with cystic fibrosis have concerns about communicating with their children about their illness. However, discussing CF with your child may help them to cope better. Researchers have found that children appreciate receiving accurate information and updates about their parents’ illnesses to help them prepare for what to expect.
Most of all, be kind to yourself. Every parent has good and bad days, so it’s important to develop a strategy for managing bad days, like meal prepping or having groceries delivered when you don’t have the time or energy. Be honest with yourself about your limitations and ask for help and support. Remember you’re not alone and your cystic fibrosis care team is one of those supports.
Nutrition and exercise
A healthy lifestyle is a fundamental element in slowing the progression of chronic diseases. Essential components of a healthy lifestyle are nutrition and exercise. It’s important for a person diagnosed with cystic fibrosis or a caregiver to someone with cystic fibrosis to have a healthy lifestyle, starting with good nutrition and safe exercise.
Learn more about nutrition & physical exerciseAging with CF
According to Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s 2021 Canadian CF Registry, approximately 65% of people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) are over the age of 18 and 20% are over the age of 40. This shift in demographics is due to improved survival rates of people with CF. Advances in our understanding of CF mean that there are more effective treatments, so people with the condition are living longer than ever. However, the aging process can bring its own challenges that were not previously recognized within the CF population, such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, obesity, menopause and metabolic disorders. Our Research program is actively contributing to improved knowledge in the area of aging with CF.
Learn more about living with cystic fibrosis
Living with CF
Learn more about cystic fibrosis and its impact on your body
CF and your body
Here to help - the CF Helpline
Cystic Fibrosis Canada has a Helpline to answer your non-urgent questions and help connect you with the community and government resources available to you. We do not give medical advice but we’re here and ready to chat about other aspects of living with cystic fibrosis during business hours Eastern Time at 1-800-378-2233 or you can email us at helpline@cysticfibrosis.ca.