Impact of Medical Treatment on Sexual Function in Patients With Crohn's Disease
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestines that causes abdominal
pain, diarrhea, tunnels around the anus (fistulas), and extraintestinal symptoms. Effective
medical treatments exist to treat the disease; however they can have significant side
effects.
Previous studies have shown that sexual function is impaired in patients with Crohn's
disease. It is likely that both the symptoms related to the disease, medications used to
treat the disease, and surgery all impair sexual function in a variety of ways. For example,
body image may be impaired, patients may be worried about bowel incontinence or unpleasant
odors associated with diarrhea, patients may have significant pelvic pain secondary to
perianal fistulas, or they may have painful intercourse from adjacent inflammation or
scarring in the pelvis. The impact of medical treatment on patient's ability to regain sexual
function is not known.
The investigators propose a 6 month study to compare sexual function before and after
treatment in patients with Crohn's disease about to initiate therapy with an anti-TNF drug
for treatment of perianal fistula or intestinal Crohn's or about to initiate therapy with
steroids.
The investigators anticipate that the investigators will show that therapy with an anti TNF
agent will result in a more rapid and greater return of sexual function than steroids. This
information will be important to help counsel patients about the optimal treatment to begin
for treatment of their Crohn's disease. Furthermore, it would be the first study to evaluate
the impact of medical therapy on sexual function.
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Maryland University of Maryland, Baltimore
Collaborators:
Mercy Medical Center Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Vanderbilt University