The majority of IBD patients (75%) reported distress in their sexual life due to IBD, yet only 5% had discussed sexual health with their IBD provider, with LGBTQ+ patients facing additional barriers including fear of discrimination and uncertainty about whether their identity negatively impacted their care.
Key Findings
Results
The majority of IBD patients surveyed reported sexual life distress due to their disease, but very few had discussed sexual health with their IBD provider.
340 patients completed the survey in total
75% (n=255) of patients reported distress in their sexual life due to IBD
Only 5% (n=17) of respondents had previously discussed the topic of sexual health with their IBD provider
Survey was conducted across Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, as well as via social media outlets
Results
LGBTQ+ patients represented approximately one-fifth of the survey sample.
20.3% (n=69) of the 340 total respondents identified as LGBTQ+
Patients were recruited via electronic patient portal messaging and outpatient clinic flyers, as well as broader IBD community social media outlets
Demographic data, IBD disease characteristics, and health care experience information were collected
Results
One in four LGBTQ+ IBD patients cited fear of discrimination as a source of discomfort when discussing sexual health with providers.
25% of LGBTQ+ patients listed fear of discrimination as a source of discomfort in sexual health discussions
A similar proportion (approximately 1 in 4) expressed uncertainty regarding whether their sexual and/or gender identity negatively impacted their IBD care
These concerns were identified as compounding pre-existing sexual health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals
Background
Sexual dysfunction is common among IBD patients generally, with LGBTQ+ patients potentially facing compounded challenges.
Sexual dysfunction is described as common among patients with inflammatory bowel disease
For LGBTQ+ patients, challenges may be compounded by health disparities related to sexual health, stigma, and fear of discrimination in the clinical setting
The study authors note there has been little prior research related to sexual health and IBD among this patient demographic
Methods
Sexual history information was collected using an adapted version of a validated IBD-specific instrument.
Sexual history information was obtained using an adapted version of the IBD-Specific Sexual Dysfunction Scale
The survey consisted of 4 parts
Survey was distributed via electronic patient portal messaging system, outpatient clinic flyers, and social media outlets
Conclusions
The authors conclude that enhanced provider awareness of sexual health challenges in LGBTQ+ IBD patients is an important step toward inclusive care.
Authors call for further research into sexual health challenges related to IBD among LGBTQ+ patients
Enhanced provider awareness is identified as 'an important step toward advancing inclusive and culturally sensitive care for this patient population'
The study identifies a gap between patient-reported sexual distress (75%) and actual provider discussions (5%) as a key concern
What This Means
This research suggests that sexual health is a widespread but underaddressed concern for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In a survey of 340 IBD patients, three out of four reported that their condition caused distress in their sexual life — yet only 1 in 20 had ever spoken about sexual health with their IBD doctor. This large gap between the prevalence of the problem and actual clinical conversations points to a significant unmet need in IBD care.
For LGBTQ+ patients specifically, who made up about 20% of the sample, the situation appears more complex. One in four LGBTQ+ respondents said they feared discrimination when it came to discussing sexual health with their provider, and a similar proportion were unsure whether their sexual or gender identity was affecting the quality of their IBD care. These findings suggest that on top of the general challenges IBD poses to sexual health, LGBTQ+ patients may face additional barriers rooted in stigma and concerns about how they will be treated in medical settings.
This research matters because it highlights a disconnect between what patients are experiencing and what gets discussed in clinical care, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals. The authors suggest that better provider training and increased awareness of these issues could be an important step toward more inclusive and culturally sensitive IBD care. Future research focusing specifically on the LGBTQ+ IBD population would help deepen understanding of these disparities.
Boyd T, Friedman S, Newman K, Chedid V, Cabral H, Winter R. (2025). Sexual Health Concerns and Health Care Experiences of LGBTQ+ Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.. Inflammatory bowel diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izaf158