According to a study in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, patients with inflammatory bowel disease often struggle with body image and sexuality and this could lead to sexual dysfunction. Men with IBD who were younger than 50 and women younger than 40 had a significantly increased risk, the study said.

“Inflammatory bowel disease could have a major impact on issues of body image, intimacy, courting, and sexuality. Patients with IBD have commonly reported complaints of elevated anxiety, lack of attractiveness, and feeling alone,” the authors wrote.

See the article at the link above, or read the review article on Healio (free registration) here.