Can inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affect my sex life?
Yes. Some women with IBD have pain or discomfort during sex. This can be caused by the disease itself, surgery, and emotional issues related to the disease. Women with IBD may have the following problems during sex: • abdominal pain • pain in the area between the vagina and rectum (perineal area) • rectal pain • feeling like they have to have a bowel movement • embarrassment because of having a stoma • fear of passing gas or stool In women with CD, painful sex is often a sign of a fistula or abscess in the vagina or that the disease is affecting the perineal area. Most women with UC have relatively normal sex lives. But after surgery, sexual problems are more common in women with both UC and CD. Emotional issues caused by IBD can also interfere with a woman’s sex life. Women with IBD have less confidence in their bodies compared with other women. Studies show that women with IBD who are in stable relationships have sex less frequently than other women. Even though it may be embarrassin
