P073 Let´s talk about sex: an unicentric cross-sectional study on sexual dysfunction, sexual satisfaction and body schema disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lindenthal, D.(1);Kranzeder, A.(2)*;Hirning, C.(2);von Wietersheim, J.(2);Klaus, J.(1);
(1)University Hospital Ulm, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm, Germany;(2)University Hospital Ulm, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm, Germany;
Background
Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) suffer from a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. Especially sexual health is an often underestimated but leading concern among patients. Despite its major impact, there has been little systematic research on this topic in the past. The aim of this study was to investigate sexual dysfunction, sexual satisfaction and body schema disorders in patients with IBD compared to a healthy control group.
Methods
A cross-sectional unicentric study was performed. 123 patients with IBD and 71 population controls were recruited for 12 months. Inclusion criteria for the patient group included a diagnosed IBD (Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis), age between 18 - 65 years and sufficient language skills to complete the questionnaires. For the control group inclusion criteria were similar but without a diagnosed IBD. Data was collected using standardised questionnaries (IBDQ, IBD-F, pMS, HBI, IIEF, BISF-W, FKKS, PHQ15, PHQ9, HADS-D). Sexual dysfunction, sexual satisfaction and body schema disorders were mainly assessed by the „Frankfurter Körperkonzeptskalen“ (FKKS) and „The Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women“ (BISF-W).
Results
Significant differences (p < 0.05) could be found within the individual questionnaire scales. Regarding the FKKS, the control group scored higher in three of the nine scales: Health and physical condition scale (SGKB), Sexuality scale (SSEX) and Body self-acceptance scale (SSAK). A similar result was also shown in the BISF-W: population controls had higher scores in two of the seven dimension scores: "Arousal" (D2) and "Pleasure/Orgasm" (D5). Overall, when comparing the total scores of FKKS and BISF-W between patients and population controls no remarkable distinctions were identified.
Conclusion
Sexual health seems to be impaired in patients with IBD. Patients suffer from reduced sexual arousal, orgasmic sensation and physical well-being. In addition, they are also more inhibited in sexual contact with their partners and devalue their own body in terms of aesthetics and biological functionality. Overall, these results can help to understand the disease´s complexity considering not only clinical but also psychological factors regarding sexual well-being and point to new therapeutical directions.