P0479 The impact of inflammatory bowel disease on sexuality of male and female patients

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that globally affects the health of individuals who suffer from it, deteriorating their quality of life (QoL), which includes one’s sexual functioning. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of intestinal disease on sexuality of male and female with IBD.

Methods: Patients and Methods

A prospective survey study on male and female individuals with IBD using an anonymous questionnaire including 60 inquiries concerning patients ‘intimate relationship and sexual functioning was performed. The following statistical tests were used: chi-square test of independence, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon and U Mann-Whitneyatests. The significance level of p = 0.05 was assumed as statistically significant.

Results

The survey included 110 respondents with IBD (41% with Crohn’s disease and 57% with ulcerative colitis) - 52 women (47%) and 58 men (53%). Most of them were aged between 31 and 40 (45%).

Statistically significant differences were found in the assessment of satisfaction with sex after IBD diagnosis between the groups - female vs male (p = 0.041). Women gave different ratings on a 5-point scale, most often 1 (23%), 4 (23%) and 5 (27%), while men most often gave 4 (49%) and 5 (26%). Despite the disease, men were more likely than women not to give up sexual activity: 53% vs 43%, respectively (p = 0.011). While women were more likely than men to be afraid that after being diagnosed with IBD they would be less attractive to their partner: 31% vs 10%, respectively (p = 0.002). Nearly 31% of women after diagnosis of IBD did not have orgasm or achieved it less frequently than before the diagnosis, which was less common in men (4%). The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Men more often than women did not change their erotic perception of the partner after IBD diagnosis: 71% vs 39%. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Women (70%) were more likely than man (28%) to expect a gastroenterologist to inform about sexuality and fertility in IBD. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

According to our survey IBD has more negative impact on sexuality of female patients. After the diagnosis women were less satisfied with sex, felt less attractive to their partner and more often resigned from sexual intercourse because of the disease. However, women were more interested in information about sexuality and fertility in IBD than men.