Inflammatory Bowel Disease affects 2.7 lakh people in India: Social stigma about IBD hits women harder

Hyderabad: Around 2.7 lakh people in India suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as of 2019 statistics. As many as 31,774 new cases were reported in 2019 alone. These numbers accounted for 8 per cent of the cases across the world.

Globally, a total of 4.9 million people were suffering from IBD in 2019, with higher caseloads from China and the USA.

How IBD affects everyone across racial and ethnic groups

People of all ages and all ethnic groups are prone to IBD, while white people are considered more prone to the disease. Though IBD affects both men and women, it presents more difficulties for women concerning the impact on fertility, pregnancy and parenting.

Despite several advancements in providing care for those affected by IBD, there is widespread false information on the impact of IBD on women and the resultant stigma in society.

The IBD Awareness Day, observed on May 19, has selected the theme, ‘IBD Has No Borders: Breaking Taboos, Talking About It’, to create awareness and eliminate the stigma associated with IBD to ensure those needing treatment receive it on time.

What is IBD?

IBD is a chronic condition which is characterised by inflammation of the digestive tract, particularly in the intestine. It is a lifelong disease in which the immune system attacks the healthy bowel cells, resulting in inflammation, swelling and damage. In the absence of a permanent cure, those affected can seek treatment to manage the symptoms and reduce the inflammation.

How does IBD affect women more?

IBD can have a telling effect on the reproductive health of women and their general health, including menstrual cycle, fertility and pregnancy, which could affect their psychological wellbeing as well.

Dr GR Srinivas Rao, consultant gastroenterologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, said that proper medical support can overcome the negative impact IBD has on women.

“Infertility, pregnancy, and parenting present particular difficulties for women with IBD, which are frequently made worse by stigma and false information. The majority of women with IBD can have safe pregnancies and kids with appropriate illness control and multidisciplinary care, while active disease and some operations can affect fertility,” he said.

Stigma in society

Most women affected by IBD decide to forgo having children, given the social taboos around chronic illness and motherhood, worries about the spread of disease, and concerns about the safety of medications. Inadequate counselling and a lack of open communication frequently contribute to these anxieties.

“Advocacy, education and candid discussions between patients and healthcare professionals are necessary to break these taboos. To improve results, preconception counselling and preventing illness remission before pregnancy are essential,” Dr Srinivas said.

The majority of IBD drugs are safe to take while pregnant, but stopping therapy without consulting a doctor might cause outbreaks that might harm the mother and unborn child. The help of assisted reproductive technology can be sought for women who experience infertility as a result of surgery.

“It’s equally critical to address psychosocial issues, including physical appearance and intimacy problems,” Dr Srinivas added.

Ensure women’s reproductive rights

The theme for IBD Awareness Day, 2025, ‘IBD Has No Borders: Breaking Taboos, Talking About It’, highlighted the importance of normalising discussions about gastrointestinal health and the difficulties faced by those with IBD, particularly women’s reproductive health.

Dr Srinivas said, “Millions of people around the world come together on this day to support those impacted by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, increase awareness and foster understanding.”

By linking global awareness initiatives like World IBD Day to support women’s reproductive rights, society can enable women with IBD to make confident, well-informed decisions about marriage, family planning and parenting.

“By working together, we can remove myths and make sure that a woman’s ability to have a fulfilling, happy life is not restricted by IBD,” he said.