*EMBARGOED All research presented at the 2021 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course is strictly embargoed until Sunday, October 24, 2021, at 3:30 pm EDT.
P2639 Sexual Dysfunction Improves with Biologic Therapy in Men and Women with IBD
Author Insight from Gabriel Castillo, MD, New York University Langone Medical Center
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
Previous studies have reported significantly impaired sexual function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease but have not tracked sexual dysfunction longitudinally or with treatment of disease. The present study aims to track sexual dysfunction over time using IBD-specific scales, the IBD- Male Sexual Dysfunction Scale (MSDS) and Female Sexual Dysfunction Scale (FSDS) in patients initiating IBD therapy with biologics or small molecule agents. We also aimed to correlate sexual dysfunction with disease activity, treatment of disease, and other IBD- health-related quality of life and psychosocial indices. Preliminary data shows that there is a strong correlation between sexual dysfunction and clinical disease activity, depression, disability and quality of life indices. Among participants who responded to therapy (those who had a significant improvement in their clinical disease activity scale scores), there was a significant improvement in sexual dysfunction scores. This finding was not observed among participants who were considered non-responders to therapy. These findings further clarify the relationship between sexual dysfunction, disease activity, and therapeutic response in IBD.
What do patients need to know?
Sexual function is a critically important aspect of quality of life. Sexual function refers to any part of the sexual response cycle, which includes desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been shown to experience more problems with sexual function compared to the general population. The results of our study indicate that patients with IBD who are experiencing sexual dysfunction may benefit from biologic or small molecule therapy, if they have a treatment response to the medication. Patients who do not experience a response to therapy may not have the same improvement in sexual function. Patients with sexual dysfunction may also have problems with depression, quality of life and functional disability.
Author Contact
Gabriel Castillo, MD, New York University Langone Medical Center
gabriel [dot] castillo [at] nyulangone [dot] org
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