Boys with Haemophilia covers physical and psychosocial development at and after puberty in healthy boys. This is done in detail to emphasize developmental variation among boys even though the progression of physical development usually occurs in a certain order. The psychosocial maturation of adolescence is not possible without the onset of puberty. It continues through specific phases. At mid-puberty many physical changes occur in boys including breaking of the voice, the start of spontaneous ejaculations and masturbation, enlargement of breasts, rapid growth of the penis and uncontrolled erections. Mid-puberty also represents a critical developmental period at the age of 13-14 years when a boy's mental functions are simultaneously developing and regressing.
Narcissism, immaturity, black and white thinking, dramatization, intellectuality and asceticism dominate in every day life. Through the parents, especially the father and the peers, and later dating, the boys gradually reach their personal masculinity and take control of their continuously changing body and sexuality.
All this is happening in adolescent boys with haemophilia as well. In addition, several haemophilia-related consequences are also discussed.
This book may be of great benefit to the parents before their son with haemophilia reaches puberty. It may also be used as reading material prior to parental courses and group discussions. Its aim is to avoid the problems of non-compliance with clotting factor replacement therapy, which is an obvious risk at puberty. Lack of adherence to therapy may lead to unnecessary joint destruction and cause limitations in adult life. The authors feel that improved knowledge of the pubertal and post pubertal events in a boy is a way to help the parents support him in his development with haemophilia.
