Sexual Dysfunction amongst Women with Crohn’s Disease: A Hidden Problem

Abstract

The sexual problems of 50 women with Crohn’s disease, of whom 45 had a stable relationship, were investigated by structured interview and compared with age-matched controls. Twenty-four percent patients had either infrequent or no intercourse compared with 4% of controls (χ² = 8.3, p < 0.005). However, amongst patients and controls who were sexually active, the frequency of intercourse was similar. Reasons for sexual inactivity included abdominal pain (24%), diarrhoea (20%) and fear of faecal incontinence (14%). Dyspareunia was common in patients (χ² = 6.5, p < 0.01) and this was irrespective of the site of disease (large vs. small bowel χ² = 0.85, NS). Women with perianal disease and fistulae were more likely to have dyspareunia than women with neither (χ² = 4.2, p < 0.05), although this was not so for less extensive involvement with only perianal disease (χ² = 2.8, NS) or fistulae (χ² = 0.8, NS). Vaginal candidiasis was more common in patients (χ² = 5.8, p < 0.02), and on occasions this may have contributed to dyspareunia. Women with Crohn’s disease experience sexual problems much more than healthy controls and they need support, sympathetic investigation and management.

Fertility and pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease

“…Some studies have reported an increase in sexual difficulties including dyspareunia in women who have had surgery for IBD and there is some evidence that patients with IBD may delay or even defer pregnancy because of their disease [4,5] . Most of the reports of sexual dysfunction are in women with Crohn's disease.…”

Perceived Sexual Dysfunction amongst Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…There is also evidence of substantial sexual dysfunction amongst women with Crohn's disease (CD) [4], In this case-control study we investigated whether such problems were also seen amongst men and women with ulcerative colitis (UC) and men with CD in Leicester.…”

“…Each patient was posted an invitation to take part in a questionnaire study of possible personal and sexual problems arising from their IBD. 188 o f the 300 patients (6.3%) agreed to participate, and they were subsequently sent a modified version of a previously validated questionnaire on sexual problems [4], Details sought included demographic data, patients' perception of the severity of their illness, data relating to treatment, family histo ry and fertility. The last section dealt with frequency of sexual inter course and any difficulties experienced as well as adverse effects on relationships with partners.…”

“…All patients were asked to identify a suitable person as 'buddy control' and, in addition, controls were also recruited from the com munity through local general practitioners [4,7], Responses from the two control groups were compared at the end of the study to ensure comparability. A randomly selected group of questionnaires (n = 20) were further tested by direct interview with patients 4 months after the main study.…”

Avaliação da reserva ovariana e do anticorpo anti-corpo lúteo em mulheres adultas com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico de início na infância

“…Impacto negativo na vida sexual ocorreu em 27% na faixa etária entre 18 e 54 anos e em 13% naqueles com idades superiores à 55 anos 32 . Nas espondiloartropatias relacionadas à doença inflamatória intestinal (DII), estudos sobre DS mostraram que dispareunia é freqüente 33 e que a depressão é o principal fator determinante de DS 34 .…”