Surgery for Crohn’s Disease Affects Male Sexual Function

Abstract

Background: Crohn’s disease (CD) has significant effects on quality of life. There is a paucity of information regarding how surgery for CD affects male sexual function. Objectives: To determine the effects of surgery for CD on male sexual function. Methods: A survey was sent to male patients who had surgery for CD at a tertiary care institution between January 1st, 2011 and July 1st, 2016. The survey included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (SIBDQ), and the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5). A retrospective chart review was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using Fischer’s exact test and two-sided t-test. Results: The survey was sent to 149 men and twenty-one patients (14%) responded. The mean age of respondents was 54.9 years. On analysis of patients who completed the IIEF-5, 12 patients (63%) met criteria for erectile dysfunction (ED). Ten patients subjectively reported worsened sexual function following surgery (48%). Men who had previously undergone surgery for CD were more likely to have ED (P = 0.01). Patients who met criteria for depression were more likely to have ED (P = 0.006). Men with more CD symptoms were more likely to have ED: the mean SIBDQ score for men with ED was 4.5, while the mean score for men without ED was 5.8 (P = 0.01). Conclusions: Men who undergo surgery for CD experience high rates of sexual dysfunction, with many men reporting their sexual functioned worsened following surgery. More research needs to be done to further characterize sexual dysfunction in men with CD.