Sexual dysfunction amongst women with Crohn's disease: a hidden problem.
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 (chi 2 = 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 (chi 2 = 6.5, p < 0.01) and this was irrespective of the site of disease (large vs. small bowel chi 2 = 0.85, NS). Women with perianal disease and fistulae were more likely to have dyspareunia than women with neither (chi 2 = 4.2, p < 0.05), although this was not so for less extensive involvement with only perianal disease (chi 2 = 2.8, NS) or fistulae (chi 2 = 0.8, NS). Vaginal candidiasis was more common in patients (chi 2 = 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.
Moody
G
G
Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Leicester General Hospital, UK.
Probert
C S
CS
Srivastava
E M
EM
Rhodes
J
J
Mayberry
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*