Impact of Female Gender in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases show a gender bias, as reported for several other immune-mediated diseases. Female-specific differences influence disease presentation and activity, leading to a different progression between males and females. Women show a genetic predisposition to develop inflammatory bowel disease related to the X chromosome. Female hormone fluctuation influences gastrointestinal symptoms, pain perception, and the state of active disease at the time of conception could negatively affect the pregnancy. Women with inflammatory bowel disease report a worse quality of life, higher psychological distress, and reduced sexual activity than male patients. This narrative review aims to resume the current knowledge of female-related features in clinical manifestations, development, and therapy, as well as sexual and psychological implications related to inflammatory bowel disease. The final attempt is to provide gastroenterologists with a roadmap of female-specific differences, to improve patients' diagnosis, management, and treatment.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; female gender; female sex; inflammatory bowel disease; quality of life; ulcerative colitis; women.

Figure 1

A schematic representation illustrating the process of study selection.

Figure 2

Summary scheme detailing various IBD-related abnormalities known to affect women’s health.