Association between IBD and Sexual Dysfunction

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease is a profound chronic condition that significantly affects the health of people, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of life. IBD can be notably associated with sexual dysfunction, whereas sexual dysfunction refers to any difficulty or challenge in sexual desire, sexual arousal, performance, or orgasm (sexual climax).

The research findings say several IBD-related factors can be attributable to sexual dysfunction in women and men. So, IBD can make sexual function worse. It is known to have a marked impact on erectile function and sexual satisfaction in males. While it significantly impacts many subdomains of sexual function in the case of female individuals.

What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term denoting certain disorders that involve chronic or long-term inflammation of the tissues present in the digestive tract. The two significant types of IBD include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Ulcerative Colitis: This disorder presents inflammation and ulcerations along the lining wall of the colon (large intestine) and rectum (the terminal part of the large intestine seen proximal to the anus).

• Crohn’s Disease: This particular type involves an inflammation of the digestive tract with more involvement of the deeper layers of the digestive tract. However, this disorder predominantly affects the small intestine. It can also distress the large intestine and, less commonly, the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease can be a mild illness for some populations; for some, it can be a significant, debilitating condition leading to potentially life-threatening complications. The symptoms of IBD vary according to the severity and site of the inflammation. Moreover, they could range from mild to severe. Individuals with IBD are likely to encounter periods of active disease followed by a period of remission.

The common signs and symptoms of IBD include the following.

• Diarrhea.

• Fatigue.

• Blood in the stool.

• Abdominal pain.

• Abdominal stomach cramps.

• Inadvertent weight loss.

• Decreased appetite.

What Is the Association Between IBD and Sexual Dysfunction?

It is essential to know the mechanism of sexual function before moving into how digestive system concerns affect sexual function. Sexual function is known for how the body reacts and responds in varied stages of the sexual response cycle. So, it is described as a person’s ability to respond sexually or to encounter sexual pleasures. The six significant domains of sexual function incorporate desire, sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm (climax), satisfaction, and discomfort with pain.

When one starts feeling sexually aroused, the nervous system sends messages and induces the associated tissue within the genital area to stimulate, causing the genital tissue to relax. As a result, the tissue receives oxygenated blood from the circulatory system. The blood vessels supplying the genitals will expand for consistent blood flow.

This results in enlargement and hardening of the genitals. After one attains orgasm, the same mechanism happens in reverse. So, the veins carry back the deoxygenated blood from the genitals, resulting in the contraction of the genital muscles. This physiologic phenomenon occurs much more similarly in males and females.

The stomach and other parts of the digestive system are not significantly involved in the major domains and subdomains of sexual function. Nevertheless, scientific research studies say certain digestive-related diseases may be linked to sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction. Hence, inflammatory bowel disease is associated with certain sexual issues, specifically weak sexual desire, and erectile dysfunction.

How Is IBD Associated With Sexual Dysfunction?

IBD can be associated with sexual dysfunction in the following distinct ways.

Physical Symptoms:

The physical symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease can affect one’s sexual desire, interfering with overall sexual activity. Sexual desire is an emotion and motivational status involving an interest in sexual activities and objects or a drive to reach out to sexual objects for engaging in sexual activities. The symptoms of IBD, including diarrhea, fatigue, and certain changes in bowel habits, do affect sexual desire.

So with the distressing diarrhea episodes and changes in bowel habits, the person finds expressing desire difficult and faces challenges in accessing, manipulating, and experiencing sex. Moreover, people with IBD might experience embarrassment, body image problems, and concerns regarding leakage or odor, which could eventually impact their self-esteem and overall sexual confidence. So, the person might feel a low sexual drive.

Use of Medications:

Certain clinical findings suggest that using several medications to manage IBD could affect sexual function. This includes corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Hence, these medications tend to cause decreased libido (sexual drive or desire toward sex).

Moreover, these medications can lead to erectile dysfunction in men, whereas erectile dysfunction (impotence) is difficulty attaining and keeping an erection potent enough for sexual intercourse. In females, using medications for treating IBD can cause vaginal dryness.

So, vaginal dryness can cause discomfort during sex as the vaginal tissues become dry, thin, and moderately or not well moisturized. With vaginal dryness, the individual experiences soreness or itchiness around the vagina, which could significantly cause pain during sex.

Psychological Factors:

Psychological problems are common with people having inflammatory bowel concerns. The psychological problem includes stress, depression, and anxiety. The clinical studies reveal that these psychological determinants can be attributable to sexual dysfunction. Subsequently, the emotional burden of sustaining life with IBD itself is a big challenge that could largely impact the quality of life. This affects the quality of life, and concerns regarding the future days can also affect one’s sexual well-being.

Conclusion

Though the stomach, digestive system, and other parts of the digestive tract are not involved in the significant stages of sexual function, certain digestive system diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can interfere with sexual activity, causing sexual dysfunction in many ways.

Nevertheless, it is essential to remember that sexual dysfunction is a common problem that can be addressed efficiently with appropriate treatment and support. If one is experiencing sexual problems related to IBD, discuss the concerns with the healthcare provider, specifically the gastroenterologist or sexual health specialist. They can help solve the problem by providing treatment strategies and guidance to improve sexual function and overall well-being.