Little research has been done exploring how inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects sexual health. In this study, investigators asked a large group of IBD patients to complete a 6-question online survey. The questions asked about sexual interest and satisfaction. Researchers found that these IBD patients had similar levels of sexual interest as the general population, but they had lower sexual satisfaction and lower quality of life as it related to their IBD. Older age, disease activity, depression, anxiety, and pain were associated with these findings. Exploring these sexual health topics during clinical encounters can help improve IBD quality of life.

We studied how often women and men with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seek care for infertility (problems getting pregnant). We also looked at reasons why individuals had trouble getting pregnant. A total of 12.5% of women in CCFA Partners went to see a doctor for problems getting pregnant. This was a little higher in women with Crohn’s disease (14.1%) than in women with ulcerative colitis (9.5%). Risk factors for needing help getting pregnant were: prior GI surgery and older age. The most common cause of fertility problems in women was blocked fallopian tubes. For men, 8.7% needed help with fertility. Age was a risk factor. The most common cause of fertility problems was a problem with their female partner. Nearly 80% of women and men who went to the doctor for fertility problems were able to get pregnant. These rates of pregnancy with fertility treatment are similar to those of people without IBD.

In a survey of over 2500 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 80% said that their disease symptoms affected their sexual interest and satisfaction. In general, women, patients with disease around their rectum and patients with more active disease had less sexual interest and satisfaction. Half of patients with ostomies said that their ostomy affected their sexual satisfaction.