SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN UNTREATED AND TREATED CELIAC PATIENTS

Background Sexual behaviour is often altered in chronic illness. Aim T o evaluate sexual behaviour in coeliac patients before and after treat ment with a gluten-free diet. Patients Fifty-five adults with coeliac disease and 51 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Methods Routine clinical and laboratory work-up was used for diagnosis of coeliac dise ase. Age of first sexual intercourse, prevalence of individuals who we re sexually active, frequency of intercourse, reduction in sexual desi re, difficulty in attaining orgasm, pain during intercourse, and preva lence of individuals defining themselves as satisfied with their sexua l life were investigated by an anonymous, self-administered questionna ire administered before and after one year's treatment with a gluten-f ree diet in coeliac patients, and only once in controls. Analyses incl uded clinical conditions, demographic and socio-economic data. Results Compared with controls, untreated coeliac patients had a significantl y lower frequency of intercourse and a lower prevalence of individuals satisfied with their sexual life. Patients with overt and subclinical coeliac disease did not show significant differences for any indices of sexual behaviour. Compared with untreated conditions, coeliac patie nts after one year of treatment had improved values for all indices of sexual behaviour: differences were significant for frequency of inter course and prevalence of individuals satisfied with their sexual life. Conclusion Untreated coeliac disease, even in its subclinical present ation, is associated with disorders in sexual behaviour which are impr oved by the dietary treatment. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.