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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Investigating Intestinal Inflammation in DSS-induced Model of IBD
Published on: February 1, 2012
Determinants of male sexual function in inflammatory bowel disease: a survey-based cross-sectional analysis in 280
Antje Timmer1, Alexandra Bauer, Daniela Kemptner
1German Cochrane Center, Department of Medical Biometry and Statistics, University Hospital of Freiburg, Germany. timmer@cochrane.de
Background:
Problems with intimacy and sexual performance are among the major concerns of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study was performed to identify disease-related factors associated with low sexual function in men.
Methods:
Consecutive patients were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire. A random sample from the national patients' organization was also included. Low sexual function was defined as a score < -1 on a z-normalized scale of the International Index of Erectile Function. Results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) based on multiple logistic regression.
Results:
280 questionnaires were available for analysis. Scores were similar between the groups and compared with general population means, with the exception of sexual desire. Of the clinical group, 44% felt severely compromised sexually due to their IBD. Erectile function was particularly sensitive to somatic problems (disease activity, OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3-4.9; diabetes, OR 7.0, 95% CI: 1.4-35.0). The influence of depressive mood was restricted to aspects of satisfaction (sexual satisfaction, OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.9; overall satisfaction OR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.7-8.3).
Conclusions:
Sexual function was relatively better with longer disease duration and was not affected by the long-term severity of the disease.
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