Sexual health counseling rates were low in all study groups despite GI providers being a primary source of information, and clearer recommendations on aspects of SHC could improve quality of care for both SGM and non-SGM patients with IBD.
IBD impacted sexual practices across all patient groups, with rates ranging from 44% in non-SGM men to 64% in SGM women.
SGM patients were significantly more likely to report that their gastroenterologist asked about sexual health compared to non-SGM patients.
Gastroenterologists were among the top sources of sexual health information for IBD patients, with 31% of respondents reporting seeking sexual health counseling from their GI provider.
Sexual health counseling rates were low across all study groups, including both SGM and non-SGM patients with IBD.
The study population included a notable proportion of sexual and gender minority patients at a tertiary IBD care center.
This research suggests that sexual health is commonly affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet patients are rarely receiving counseling about it from their doctors. The study surveyed 162 IBD patients, about a quarter of whom identified as sexual or gender minorities (SGM, such as LGBTQ+ individuals), and found that between 44% and 64% of patients reported that IBD had affected their sexual practices — yet formal sexual health counseling from gastroenterologists remained uncommon across all groups. Interestingly, SGM patients were more likely to report that their gastroenterologist had asked about sexual health compared to non-SGM patients. Despite the low rates of counseling, gastroenterologists were identified as one of the top sources patients turned to for sexual health information, with 31% of all respondents saying they sought this guidance from their GI doctor. This highlights a gap: patients are looking to their GI providers for help with sexual health, but those providers are not consistently offering it. This research suggests that gastroenterology practices could meaningfully improve patient care by more routinely addressing sexual health as part of IBD management. The authors note that clearer clinical guidelines on sexual health counseling for IBD patients — including those who identify as SGM — could help providers better support this often-overlooked aspect of patients' overall wellbeing.
Goldowsky A, Eidelberg A, Geeganage G, Gade A, Pando O, Saraga A, et al.. (2026). Sexual Health and STI Counseling Is Critical but Often Overlooked in IBD.. Digestive diseases and sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-025-09396-y