Female reproductive health and inflammatory bowel disease: A practice-based review

Inflammatory bowel diseases, namely ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, occur worldwide and affect people of all ages, with a high impact on their quality of life. Sex differences in incidence and prevalence have been reported, and there are also gender-specific issues that physicians should recognize. For women, there are multiple, important concerns regarding issues of body image and sexuality, menstruation, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. This practice-based review focuses on the main themes that run through the life of women with inflammatory bowel diseases from puberty to menopause. Gastroenterologists who specialize in inflammatory bowel diseases and other physicians who see female patients with inflammatory bowel diseases should provide support for these problems and offer adequate therapy to ensure that their patients achieve the same overall well-being and health as do women without inflammatory bowel diseases. (c) 2021 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients worldwide. Women with these conditions face gender-specific issues related to body image, sexuality, menstruation, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. It is important for physicians specializing in inflammatory bowel diseases to recognize and address these concerns to ensure the overall well-being and health of female patients.