title: Sexual Dysfunctions in Men and Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Influence of IBD-Related Clinical Factors and Depression on Sexual Function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is likely to have an impact on sexual function because of its symptoms, like diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. Depression is commonly reported in IBD and is also related to impaired sexual function. This study aimed to evaluate sexual function and its association with depression among patients with IBD compared with controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  IBD patients registered at two hospitals participated. The control group consisted of a general practitioner practice population. The web-based questionnaire included the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for women and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for men. Other variables evaluated were depression, disease activity, IBD-related quality of life, body image, and fatigue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 168 female and 119 male patients were available for analysis (response rate 24%). Overall, patients with IBD did not significantly differ in prevalence of sexual dysfunctions from controls: female patients 52%, female controls 44%, male patients and male controls both 25%. However, men and women with an active disease scored significantly lower than patients in remission and controls, indicating impaired sexual functioning during disease activity. Significant associations were found between active disease, fatigue, depressive mood, quality of life, and sexual function for both male and female patients. The association between disease activity and sexual function was totally mediated by depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male and female IBD patients with an active disease show impaired sexual function relative to patients in remission and controls. Depression is the most important determinant for impaired sexual function in IBD.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Gastroenterology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Linda G J
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bel
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Gastroenterology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vollebregt
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Gastroenterology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Andrea E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Van der Meulen-de Jong
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Herma H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Fidder
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Diaconessenhuis Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ten Hove
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner Practice, t Wantveld, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelia W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Vliet-Vlieland
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Gastroenterology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Moniek M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ter Kuile
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Gastroenterology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Helena E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatic Gynaecology and Sexology, Department of Gastroenterology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Both
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Depression; Fatigue; Quality of Life in IBD; Sexual Function