A recent study has found that gay men who participate in “high-risk sexual activity” are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) than straight men who participate in high-risk sexual activity.
That might sound common sensical considering gay men’s sexual interests, but researchers haven’t definitively found the cause just yet. In the study, “high-risk sexual activity” was defined as sexual contact without condoms as well as sex with several sexual partners.
They plan on studying the issue more closely to find the culprit.
The study, conducted by Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, looked at self-reported data taken between 2002 and 2022 from 58 healthcare organizations across the United States.
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Researchers found that 0.8 percent of individuals who self-reported participating in high-risk same-sex activity had Crohn’s disease (a painful inflammation of the digestive tract), and 1.26 percent had ulcerative colitis (painful open sores in the bowels). Comparatively, 0.49 percent of men who self-reported high-risk heterosexual behavior had Crohn’s disease and 0.52 percent had ulcerative colitis, SciTech Daily reported.
The researchers also found that men with Crohn’s disease who engaged in high-risk same-sex sexual activity were more likely to have other potentially painful perianal diseases affecting anal tissues as well as diseases that can dangerously narrow the colon or small intestine.
The research team said they’ll continue studying the issue more closely using $1,100,000 in grants from the National Institutes of Health. The grants will allow them to collect more plasma, tissue, and stool samples from LGBTQ people for gut microbiome analyses through 2025.
“Studying the cause of IBD in this underrepresented patient population in comparison to other patient groups will allow us to further investigate the cause of disease development in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients and develop personalized precision medicine and treatment strategies, while also reducing stigma,” said Fabio Cominelli, the study’s co-author and a professor at Case Western Reserve’s School of Medicine.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Gut.
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sfhairy
Most likely the culprit is eating the chocolate starfish. Hence why I don’t rim. Too many of my friends have had gastro issues due to their rimming activity.
SDR94103
“eating the chocolate starfish.”
I can’t, I just can’t. Hysterical
Consider This
sfhairy – appreciate your observations and I would readily agree.
LAGuy
Interesting study. I’m gay and I have Crohn’s that presented itself about 4 years after I came out and began fooling around with men. In my case I did rim a couple times and got sick with Giardia. I quickly stopped that practice. So there might be some connection with gut bacteria. But there is also a connection with nerves and being anxious that might contribute…and the stress of being a gay man in a hetero world. We’re always fighting for acceptance. Or even the stress of comparing ourselves with other gay men in regards to dating. Hoping to find a secure steady partner. I think all this might contribute to gastrointestinal complications.
Neoprene
It’s not a civil rights issue, dear. Either enjoy unprotected sex and accept the consequences, or don’t.
Den
Ah, neoprene, neoprene, neoprene; always reveling in your ignorance to the amusement of the adults here. There is a large autoimmune aspect to IBD. So the societal pressures idiots like you impose on gay men may well be involved. Anybody who has to deal.with the likes of you is bound to have high levels of stress hormones, and systemic inflammation. Both related to autoimmune conditions.
Kangol2
It’s very likely linked to people’s gastrointestinal biomes, which increasingly appear to affect every aspect of our physiology, whether we realize it or not.
Den
There is more and more research into the value of “fecal implants” for controlling a number of autoimmune conditions. Even things like MS seemingly unrelated to gut health. There are people who have been identified as having particularly healthy gut flora/fauna, and some actually donate feces for medical research. The fecal cultures are taken as (tasteless) pills. Conceptually gross, but apparently tasteless.
bachy
I’d be curious to see the rates of these diseases in both heterosexual and homosexual women. I think it would help to put perceptions about various sexual practices into greater perspective.
Den
Women are more likely to suffer from Crohn’s than men and develop it at an earlier age usually. Men are more likely to suffer from ulcerative colitis. There is currently no accepted single cause and it is thought to be an autoimmune issue to at least some extent.
However, the never charming neoprene seems to know all about it. See what his “expert” opinion is.
Fang
I wonder if douching is a culprit? My understanding is that deep douching can rinse out healthy bacteria which affects the microbiome. Thoughts?