Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40983795›Full record

ArticleDigestive diseases and sciences2026

Sexual Health and STI Counseling Is Critical but Often Overlooked in IBD.

Alexander Goldowsky, Andrew Eidelberg, Grace Geeganage, Ajay Gade, Oriana Pando, Alessandra Saraga, Tina Deyhim, Konstantinos Papamichael, Daniel Wong, Kristen Crowell and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Digestive diseases and sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Alexander GoldowskyDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Andrew EidelbergDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Grace GeeganageDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Ajay GadeDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Oriana PandoDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Alessandra SaragaDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Tina DeyhimDivision of Internal Medicine, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA.
Konstantinos PapamichaelDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Daniel WongDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Kristen CrowellDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Sarah FlierDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Kira L NewmanDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Adam S CheifetzDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Sarah BallouDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. sballou@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Loren G RabinowitzDepartment of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSexual health counseling (SHC) is a critical aspect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. Less is known about sexual health counseling in patients who identify as members of a sexual or gender minority (SGM) group.

aimsThis study aims to characterize patient-reported sexual health counseling in SGM vs. non-SGM patients with IBD.

methodsWe conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional survey of patients over 18 years old with IBD, currently receiving care at a large, tertiary care IBD center. Data collection included demographics, IBD history, and patient recall of SHC. Patients who self-identified as SGM were compared to non-SGM patients, with subgroup analyses by sex assigned at birth. Means were compared using t tests and percentages compared using chi-square analysis.

resultsA total of 162 patients (41 SGM and 121 non-SGM) completed the survey. Both groups reported IBD impacted their sexual practices (ranging from 44% non-SGM men to 64% SGM women). SGM patients were more likely to report that their gastroenterologist asked about sexual health compared to non-SGM patients (p < .005). Importantly, 31% of respondents reported seeking SHC from their gastroenterologist (GI), placing GIs among the top sources of information regarding sexual health in this cohort.

conclusionMost study participants reported that IBD has impacted their sexual practices. SHC rates were low in all study groups despite GI providers being a primary source of information. Clearer recommendations on aspects of SHC could improve quality of care for both SGM and non-SGM patients with IBD.

Indexed as

CounselingInflammatory Bowel DiseasesSexual and Gender MinoritiesSexual HealthSexually Transmitted DiseasesAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSexual BehaviorSurveys and QuestionnairesDisparitiesInflammatory bowel diseaseSexual and gender minoritySexual health

Identifiers

PMID40983795

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.