Genital Crohn's Disease: Symptoms, Causes & Management

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the entire digestive tract. This means that there are genital manifestations (symptoms) of the disease for some (especially female) sufferers.

Significance

• Up to one-third of people with Crohn's disease may develop related inflammatory symptoms on their genitals or reproductive organs, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Considerations

• It can be difficult to link symptoms of the reproductive system to Crohn's disease, according to the AAFP, if they are the first symptoms or if they are accompanied by a discharge that is clear or contains mucous.

Symptoms

• Crohn's disease symptoms on the genitals may include fistulas (holes), pelvic inflammatory disease, inflammation of the vulva with abscess or ulcers, damage to the perineum and granuloma (a type of swelling) of the vagina, according to the AAFP.

Time Frame

• When very young people are affected by Crohn's disease, they may experience slowed sexual development, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Warning

• Lesions caused to the genitals by Crohn's disease may go unreported because of shame, although Medline Plus notes that it is important to seek medical advice for proper treatment of any genital symptoms.