Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Investigating Intestinal Inflammation in DSS-induced Model of IBD
Published on: February 1, 2012
Evaluation of the Quality of Semen and Sexual Function in Men with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Paz Valer1, Alicia Algaba, Daniel Santos
1*Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Spain; †Department of Urology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain; ‡Unidad de Gestión Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Unidad de Metodología de Investigación y Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain; §Department of Biochemistry, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Spain; ‖Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain; ¶Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario Fundación de Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Spain; **Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganes, Spain; ††Department of Urology, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Spain; and ‡‡Department of Communication Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Data on fertility rates and medication safety in men with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a seminal alteration in patients with IBD and, if so, to evaluate the mechanisms that may play a role according to what has been described in the literature. Its secondary aim was to evaluate the impact on male sexual function of IBD.
Methods:
Multicenter, cross-sectional, case series study comparing men with IBD and control subjects. Semen analysis was performed according to the recommendations of World Health Organization. The impact on male sexual function was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.
Results:
On multivariate analysis, patients with Crohn's disease had lower sperm concentrations compared with those with ulcerative colitis (median [interquartile range], 34.5 [19.2-48] versus 70 [34.5-127.5], P = 0.02) and lower seminal zinc levels (mean ± SD, 1475 ± 235 μmol/L versus 2221 ± 1123 μmol/L, P = 0.04). Patients with Crohn's disease on anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment had better progressive motility (mean ± SD, 56.7 ± 17.7 versus 35.1 ± 22.1, P = 0.01) and sperm morphology (14.4 ± 7.1 versus 7.6 ± 4.9, P = 0.04) than those who were not on anti-tumor necrosis factor. Regarding sexual function, no significant differences were found across patients with IBD and control subjects.
Conclusions:
Men with Crohn's disease showed a trend toward poorer semen quality than those with ulcerative colitis. Treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs does not seem to be associated with poor sperm quality. In patients in clinical remission, male sexual function is not affected by IBD.
More Related Videos
09:11Systematic Scoring Analysis for Intestinal Inflammation in a Murine Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis Model
Published on: February 14, 2021
09:44Functional Assessment of Intestinal Motility and Gut Wall Inflammation in Rodents: Analyses in a Standardized Model of Intestinal Manipulation
Published on: September 11, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD: