Sexual Functioning of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background/

Objectives

Chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), influence patients' sexuality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the sexual functioning (SF) of patients with IBD.

Methods

We perform a prospective survey study on male and female individuals with IBD using an anonymous questionnaire including 60 inquiries concerning patients' intimate relationships and SF. The following statistical tests were used: chi-square test of independence, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests. A significance level of p = 0.05 was assumed as statistically significant.

Results

There were 110 respondents with IBD (41% with Crohn's disease and 57% with ulcerative colitis): 52 women (47%) and 58 men (53%), with a mean age of between 31 and 40 (45%). In 34% of respondents, the assessment of satisfaction with sex after diagnosis decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.007). Statistically significant correlations were found between IBD clinical activity and the impact of the disease on sexual desire (p < 0.001), the need for sex after diagnosis (p < 0.001), satisfaction with sex after diagnosis (p = 0.003), the average frequency of intercourse (p = 0.004), the average duration of intercourse after diagnosis (p = 0.001), feeling guilty in the sexual sphere due to the disease (p = 0.006), assessment of one's attractiveness since diagnosis (p = 0.032), and change in the partner's erotic perception after diagnosis (p < 0.001). The more aggressive the course of the disease, the more negative the impact on patients' sexuality.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of IBD has a negative impact on patients' SF-disease flare leads to a decrease in sexual needs, worse experiences and negative body image.