A retrospective epidemiological study of ulcerative colitis (UC) and proctitis was performed in Leicestershire from

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of infertility, abortions and perinatal mortality, age at menarche and menopause in coeliac disease. Method: This was a case control study in which patients and controls, matched for age and sex, were sent questionnaires about their fertility profile and other obstetric and gynaecological problems. All 80 patients and 70 controls replied, but only 68 pairs could be matched for this study. Results: The mean age of menarche in patients was significantly older (13.6 years) than in controls (12.7 years). The mean ages at menopause in patients and controls were 47.6 and 50.1 years, respectively. The mean number of children born to patients was significantly less at 1.9 (SD± 0.9) compared to 2.5 (SD± 1.2) in controls. Before diagnosis the mean number of children born to patients was 1.4 and 1.8 in controls. After diagnosis and treatment, patients had 0.5 children (SD±0.9) compared to 0.7 in controls (SD±1.2). It seems likely that the overall difference in fertility is due to relative infertility prior to diagnosis and its correction by a gluten‐free diet. Significantly more conceptions amongst women with coeliac disease (15%) ended in miscarriage prior to diagnosis than amongst controls (6%). After diagnosis and treatment the rate of miscarriage was similar. There were 120 live babies and 7 stillbirths to patients compared with 161 live babies and 1 stillbirth to controls. Conclusions: Patients with CD are subfertile and have an increased incidence of stillbirths and perinatal deaths.

300 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were randomly selected from the community-based register held in Leicester. They were invited to participate in a study investigating personal problems of patients with IBD. 188 patients agreed to participate and were subsequently sent a previously validated questionnaire. A similar questionnaire was sent to buddy controls of similar age, sex and background (n = 76) as well as matched controls drawn at random from general practitioner lists (n = 46). Details sought included demographic data, patients’ perception of their disease severity, data relating to treatment, family history, fertility, frequency of sexual intercourse and the effect IBD had on personal relationships. 150 questionnaires were returned from patients (response rate 80%) and 122 from controls. The reliability of a randomly selected group of questionnaires was assessed by direct interview 4 months after the main study (n = 20). There were no demographic differences between the patient and control groups (age: t = 0.67, ns; duration of marriage: t = 0.92, and marital status/ number with a regular partner: χ² = 14, 12 d.f., p = 0.3). Dyspareunia was commoner amongst patients (n = 15, 38%) than controls (n = 7, 18%), although this was not statistically significant (z = 2.6). There was no significant difference in the overall frequency of sexual intercourse amongst patient and control groups (χ² = 12.78, 12 d.f.), even when comparing those with infrequent or no sexual intercourse (χ² = 6.98, 4 d.f.) The reliability of these results was confirmed after 4 months when there was no difference in resposnes in the re-interviewed group. Although there is no statistical evidence of a decreased frequency of sexual intercourse amongst men with IBD and women with ulcer-ative colitis they cite similar difficulties to women with Crohn’s disease, including fear of faecal incontinence (n = 17), abdominal pain (n = 13) and urgency (n = 11). Consequently there is a need to investigate the problems of patients with IBD sympathetically and refer them to the appropriate professional agencies.

Eighty three patients in whom the diagnosis of Crohn's disease had been made before the age of 40 years and who had been resident in the city of Cardiff were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about their educational and employment experiences. Responses were obtained from 58 patients (response rate= 70%), 23 buddy controls, and 27 community controls. The mean (SD)