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Sexual Health and STI Counseling Is Critical but Often Overlooked in IBD
Alexander Goldowsky1, Andrew Eidelberg2, Grace Geeganage1
1Department of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Sexual health counseling (SHC) is crucial for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. While SGM patients reported more GI inquiries, overall SHC rates remain low for all IBD patients, indicating a need for improved care recommendations.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Sexual Health
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Sexual health counseling (SHC) is integral to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management.
- Limited data exists on SHC experiences for sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals with IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare patient-reported SHC between SGM and non-SGM individuals with IBD.
- To identify differences in SHC experiences based on sexual and gender identity within the IBD population.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous, cross-sectional survey of 162 adult IBD patients at a tertiary care center.
- Data collected on demographics, IBD history, and recall of SHC.
- Statistical comparison of SGM versus non-SGM patients, including subgroup analyses.
Main Results:
- IBD impacted sexual practices for all patient groups (44%-64%).
- SGM patients reported significantly more frequent SHC inquiries from their gastroenterologist (GI) (p < .005).
- Gastroenterologists were a primary source for SHC for 31% of all IBD patients.
Conclusions:
- IBD significantly affects patients' sexual health across diverse groups.
- Low SHC rates persist for all IBD patients, including SGM individuals.
- Enhanced clinical guidelines for SHC are needed to improve care for all IBD patients.
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