Fertility & Sexual Health in IBD

Quiescent disease or mildly active = same fertility and birth outcomes as a normal pregnancy/those without IBD     Body image and sexual intimacy are major concerns for those with IBD, yet rarely discusses  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11419835/  With almost 40% of patients reporting their disease negatively impacting their decision to pursue intimate relationships  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21172179/  Sexual health is multidimensional, encompassing physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual aspects, allowing depression and anxiety to be the main driver of sexual dysfunction in IBD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6767981/#:~:text=Impact%20of%20the%20disease%20and%20frequency%20of%20sexual%20dysfunction&text=Indeed%2C%20sexual%20dysfunction%20rates%20are,the%20general%20population%5B16%5D     “In IBD patients, more than 50% of women suffer from sexual dysfunction and 45% of men from erectile dysfunction. Psychological comorbidities, body image, and disease perception are strongly associated with poor sexual health in IBD patients” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6767981/#:~:text=Impact%20of%20the%20disease%20and%20frequency%20of%20sexual%20dysfunction&text=Indeed%2C%20sexual%20dysfunction%20rates%20are,the%20general%20population%5B16%5D    Can IBD affect my fertility?    Malnutrition Nutrient deficiencies – B12, anemia Decreased appetite, nausea, weight loss Poor absorption of nutrients and/or increased losses in the stool  Women: Damage to reproductive organs in surgery  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21766164/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23360923/ – laparoscopy > open surgery  Non-surgical: Perianal disease and fallopian tube inflammation  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24004045/  Men: Active inflammation, poor nutrition, alcohol use, smoking, medications, and surgery may cause infertility in men with IBD https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27602237/  Most medications do not affect fertility  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4865770/  Equally likely to respond to IVF as their […]