Alteration in Sexual Function in a Cohort of Patients From a Colombian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center of Excellence

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) considers sexuality a central aspect of human beings. Sexuality encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, reproduction and sexual orientation. It is experienced and expressed through thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and interpersonal relationships. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) often causes changes in the perception of health and sometimes impairs the sexual function of patients who suffer from it. In addition, its debut during adolescence and young adults, that is, ages in which body image, self-esteem and personal relationships are important. Therefore, it was decided to apply the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ) in patients of the IBD center of the International Hospital of Colombia (HIC). Objective: To determine the importance and main alterations in the sexual function of patients at the HIC IBD Center of Excellence through the CSFQ scale. Materials and Methods: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study in patients diagnosed with IBD, who have been admitted to the Center of Excellence in IBD of the HIC. The CSFQ scale was given to all patients, both virtually and in person, to be filled out individually and anonymously by each patient. The total score was obtained from the sum of the scores of its 14 items and ranged from 14 to 70. A higher score, both in the dimensions and in the total, represented better sexual function. Results: Within the cohort of patients of the IBD Center of Excellence there are seventy-four patients to whom the CSFQ survey has been applied to 44%, 56.25% corresponded to the female sex, 88.23% were ulcerative colitis and 11.76% Crohn’s disease. With an average age of 42 years. The total score was obtained from the sum of the scores of its 14 items and this varied from 14 to 70. A higher score, both in the dimensions and in the total, represents a better sexual function. An average score of 40 was obtained, with a minimum score of 20 and a maximum of 56 points. In 64.3% of the male population surveyed, a score higher than 35 points was obtained. In the case of women, 83.3% obtained a score higher than 35 points; the lowest scores were obtained in the extreme ages of the population evaluated, minimum age of 19 and maximum age of 69 years with an average of 22 points. Regarding the importance of sex life, 38% responded that it was very important, followed by 22% important, 16% relatively important, 12% not very important and 12% unimportant. As for the reasons why patients have alterations in sexual relations, 37.5% are due to abdominal pain or discomfort, 25% for fear of incontinence during sexual intercourse, 21.9% for low self-esteem, 18.8% for pain during intercourse and 9.4% for the use of the ostomy pouch. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that sexual function scores on average are fair for all patients in our center, with lower scores for men and for younger and older adults, with pain, fear of incontinence and low self-esteem being the main problems in sexual function.