title: Sexual activity does not predispose to reflux episodes in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of sexual activity on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an under-recognized concern of patients, and one rarely assessed by physicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to determine the influence of sexual activity on the intraesophageal acid exposure and acid reflux events in GERD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with the diagnosis of GERD were prospectively enrolled. Intraesophageal pH monitoring was recorded for 48 hours with a Bravo capsule. All patients were instructed to have sexual intercourse or abstain in a random order two hours after the same refluxogenic dinner within two consecutive nights. Patients were requested to have sex in the standard "missionary position" and women were warned to avoid abdominal compression. The patients completed a diary reporting the time of the sexual intercourse and GERD symptoms. The percentage of reflux time and acid reflux events were compared in two ways: within 30 and 60 minutes prior to and after sexual intercourse on the day of sexual intercourse and in the same time frame of the day without sexual intercourse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen of 21 GERD patients were analyzed. The percentage of reflux time and number of acid reflux events did not show a significant difference within the 30- and 60-minute periods prior to and after sexual intercourse on the day of sexual intercourse and on the day without sexual intercourse, as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual activity does not predispose to increased intraesophageal acid exposure and acid reflux events. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings in patients who define reflux symptoms during sexual intercourse.
authors.affiliation: Ege University School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey ; Moscow Gastroenterology Research Institute, Russia.
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bor
authors.affiliation: Moscow Gastroenterology Research Institute, Russia ; Ege Reflux Study Group, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valytova
authors.affiliation: Ege University School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey ; Moscow Gastroenterology Research Institute, Russia.
authors.forename: Suna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yapali
authors.affiliation: Ege University School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey ; Moscow Gastroenterology Research Institute, Russia.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Ege University School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey ; Moscow Gastroenterology Research Institute, Russia.
authors.forename: Rukiye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vardar
keywords: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; acid reflux event; acid reflux time; sexual activity