Acta Paediatr. 2024 Aug;113(8):1965-1971. doi: 10.1111/apa.17322. Epub 2024 Jun 8.

Adi Anafy ^1 2, Shlomi Cohen ^1 2, Manar Matar ^2 3, Dror S Shouval ^2 3, Raanan Shamir ^2 3, Yael Weintraub ^2 3

Author information

¹Pediatric Gastroenterology Institute, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

²Tel Aviv University, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.

³Institute of Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Abstract

Aim: Although sexual health (SH) impairment and sexually transmitted infections (STI) are occasionally encountered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), paediatric gastroenterologists (PedGI) do not often discuss these issues. Literature about SH in the paediatric IBD population is limited. We aimed to assess PedGI knowledge and common practice related to sexual advice and STI workups in patients with IBD.

Methods: A questionnaire comprising 25 questions addressing sexual activity in youth, SH, recommendations, and workup for STI in adolescents with IBD was sent to all registered PedGI in Israel.

Results: Fifty-two physicians completed the questionnaire (27 males,52%). Only 50% correctly predicted the mean age that Israeli youth start practicing sex. Seventy-five per cent responded that providers should discuss sexual activity with their patients, but only 19% do so, most often in response to a patient's query. Ninety six percent answered that they do not have enough knowledge about SH in IBD. Finally, only 2% obtain rectal swabs for STI in patients with refractory proctitis.

Conclusion: Sexual issues and recommendations are not routinely discussed by the majority of PedGI in paediatric IBD clinics. Providers should obtain more knowledge in the field and initiate discussion of these issues with adolescent patients with IBD.