Gender issues in inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two chronic inflammatory conditions involving the gastrointestinal tract. While many aspects of the management of these diseases are identical for all patients, there are some issues specific to women that are not necessarily part of routine care. Certain gender-specific issues such as menses, fertility, pregnancy and menopause are often overlooked and mismanaged. Women have different psychologic concerns compared with men in regard to their self-image and impact of disease. Healthcare providers, regardless of their primary focus, should be aware of these differences and be familiar with general information specific to women.