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Crohn’s Disease In Females: 6 Unique Symptoms

Ever wondered what the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females1 are and why does it occur. Well, there are so many symptoms, with a few becoming life-threatening.

As the population ages, it becomes impossible to prevent, delay or intercept the onset of diseases. Experts say that the concept of living without any illness is next to impossible.

But from the perspective view on medicines, priorities can be shifted from treating or curing diseases like Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Ulcerative Colitis2, or Crohn’s Disease to preventing or halting the progress of the disease.

As the future progresses with technology, we humans will be like our cars today. Our body would be equipped with sensors to measure and monitor our health.

You can’t even imagine such a life, isn’t it!

Companies in the future will have to develop products such as monitors and better diagnostic pieces of equipment to detect diseases in the early stage itself to be eliminated.

Impact of Chronic Diseases

Chronic disease3 is a severe problem affecting many in the world. More people are being diagnosed with chronic diseases these days than ever before.

People of all ages, races, and income levels get affected by chronic diseases. The increase in these diseases is becoming a massive problem for our healthcare system and economy.

Chronic disease affects each person differently. There are a few diseases that get managed over time. Some get disabled, while some require significant lifestyle changes.

In most cases, every aspect of a person’s life gets affected due to chronic disease. This includes physical, mental, social life, family, finances, and employment.

Sometimes a chronic disease can also shorten the life of a person. This is especially true in cases when the disease is not diagnosed and treated properly.

It is hard to identify one specific reason for the increase in chronic diseases. Various factors influence our health.

Advancement in modern medicine and public awareness has increased our life span. A longer life span means diseases are being diagnosed at an older age.

More diseases could also be because of the barriers to healthcare and the risk factors involving chronic diseases.

Chronic diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are increasing these days worldwide.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects your Gastrointestinal Tract4 (GI) anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is said to affect the end of the small intestine.

Crohn’s disease is one of the two Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), and the other is Ulcerative Colitis. The main symptom of Crohn’s disease5 is that your digestive tract becomes swollen and irritated.

Even though this disease revolves around the intestinal system, it can also manifest in the skin, bones, eyes, skin, liver, and kidney.

The symptoms vary for each patient, but some of the common symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females and men are:

  • Severe diarrhea
  • Urgent need to empty bowels
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Abdominal pain and cramping
  • Constipation
  • Bowel obstructions
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Liver disease

Symptoms of Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis generally affects the digestive system and is diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood, but nowadays, it is becoming common among children. It is estimated that IBD has affected about five million globally.

The majority of inflammatory bowel disease-affected patients are found in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, while Japan, South Africa, and Latin America have the most minor cases.

Colitis Foundation says that many cases are still undiagnosed as they do not show any common complication, and some are detected when severe Crohn’s disease erupts.

The saddest part is that no cure has been found for Crohn’s. But it can be managed and controlled with medicines, and in some cases, surgery is required.

Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease

The first thing the doctor will ask is the symptoms faced by the patient, like blood clots in stools, mouth sores, belly pain, skin complications, and weight loss.

A physical examination can reveal a lump in the abdomen. This lump is caused by the inflamed bowels that are looped and stuck together in the digestive tract.

The following tests may be suggested after looking up the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females:

  • Stool and blood test
  • Endoscopy
  • Biopsy when small bowel pieces are removed for testing
  • CT scan or Barium enema
  • An X-ray will help in revealing the changes in the bowel.
  • By conducting Sigmoidoscopy, where a short flexible tube, a sigmoidoscope, is used to investigate the lower bowel.
  • The colonoscopy will help investigate the colon and clear doubts about colon cancer.

Crohn's Disease - Testing

What Are The Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in Females

Living with any disease is a difficult phase of life, and each patient has different experiences. The same goes for those having Crohn’s disease. A variety of symptoms are noticed, but some of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females are found to be unique.

Not all women face the same Crohn’s disease symptoms but let us see some that are of particular concern for females living with Crohn’s disease

1. Irregular Periods

A sudden outburst of Crohn’s disease will influence the hormone, stress, and nutrition levels that will affect the menstrual cycle.

Those living with IBD will experience more gastrointestinal symptoms 6during their menstruation.

Symptoms of Crohn's Disease in Females
Severe stomach cramps Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels

The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females are bowel obstruction during their periods. Recent studies show that women with this disease reported a high level of premenstrual symptoms than those who do not have IBD.

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females were severe abdominal pain, high bowel movements, and loose stools during menstruation and premenstrual phase. It is said that all this could be due to the fluctuation of hormones during menstruation that may be impacting Crohn’s symptoms.

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females in their younger age may have delayed puberty, or they could have a delay in their first period. Adults may have infrequent menstruation (oligomenorrhea).

These issues could be not directly because of Crohn’s disease but due to the complications related to this disease like chronic inflammation, poor nutrition, stress, and low body fat.

2. Deficiency of Iron and Anemia

Women living with Crohn’s are at a high risk of developing iron deficiency than those who do not have IBD.

Crohn’s disease means an increased risk of bleeding from the intestine or lack of iron absorption due to the small intestine’s inflammation.

Women who are menstruating are already facing the risk of anemia due to the loss of blood during menstruation. This, together with the bleeding from the GI tract, means the risk is more significant for those with Crohn’s disease.

All this will lead to these women becoming anemic when the body lacks the necessary red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease in females
Are you Anemic Photo by Quinn Dombrowski From Flickr

3. Fertility Issues

Studies show that women experiencing retardation of Crohn’s disease have fertility issues. But if the disease is active or the patient has recently undergone surgery, the chances of conceiving are also tricky.

Those having Crohn’s or symptoms of Crohn’s disease must consult a doctor when you have started planning to conceive. The doctor will help offer different treatment options so that your fertility is not at risk.

As per Crohn’s & Crohn’s Foundation, women with IBD do not face any problems during pregnancy, especially if the disease was in the remission phase when becoming pregnant.

But if a woman conceives when the IBD flares up, there are chances of the disease staying active or getting worse during pregnancy.

Most of the medicines prescribed for Crohn’s disease are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with some exceptions, but it is always better to speak to your doctor.

4. Sexual Dysfunction

Another symptom of Crohn’s disease in females is that they could experience challenges in their sex lives. Various factors could lead to sexual dysfunction in females having Crohn’s disease like:

  • Small bowel movements
  • Abdominal pains
  • Lethargy
  • A perianal fistula
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Inability to control excretory functions (Incontinence)

The latest study says that women over 18 and IBD experience increased vaginal discomfort.

This was found out after the patients were asked to fill out a survey related to the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females on irritation, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, and vaginal pain.

It was also reported that women reported Dyspareunia (painful sex) and continued to experience this even after two years.

5. Osteoporosis

As per studies conducted by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, about 30-50% of females with Crohn’s disease have low to average bone density.

This is because for those who have Crohn’s disease, a high level of specialized protein, Cytokines, will be present in their blood.

These cytokines disrupt the pace of a new bone formation, and old bones are removed, thus increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

The risk of osteoporosis could also be high because of taking steroids during flare-ups, nutritional deficiencies, and not doing regular exercise due to fatigue.

6. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Fatty liver is a common liver disease faced by those living with inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease.

According to Crohn’s and Colitis, Foundation scars are caused within the bile ducts due to inflammation. This scar tissue causes damage to the liver by making the bile ducts hard and narrows slowly, stopping the bile acids from flowing out.

The Foundation says that nearly 5% of those with inflammatory bowel disease will have liver failure.

Besides Crohn’s disease, fatty liver can also lead to heart disease, liver cancer, digestive and kidney diseases.

Treatment of Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in Females

Crohn’s disease has no cure. Treatment of any illness is the final aim of every patient. The fundamental goal of Crohn’s treatment is to manage the flare-ups, lessen the intensity of the disease and maintain this remission over a long period without using any steroids.

Eating Healthy with Crohn’s Disease

  1. Diagnosis – As per ACG clinical guidelines, people with Crohn’s disease should be treated on time. First, the Crohn’s diagnosis should be confirmed before starting any medications.
  2. Diet and Exercise – A meaningful way to keep Crohn’s disease in check is to follow a healthy diet and regular exercise. Follow a well-balanced diet low in saturated fats and high in omega-3 fatty acids. People with Crohn’s disease react differently to foods, so there is no particular effective diet that has been proven helpful for them.
  3. Nutritious Diet – It is best to follow a healthy and nutritious diet when the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females are detected so that the symptoms do not get triggered or worsen.
  4. Workouts should be less Rigorous – Follow low-intensity workouts like walking as it is seen that such workouts help in reducing the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females. Exercise will reduce the stress that will trigger the disease and thus prevent depression that normally occurs in females with such chronic conditions.
  5. Your Healthcare Team will be With You – Remember your health care team will work with you to reduce any pain. They will try all possible methods to prevent surgery. Studies on women medically reviewed have shown that the disease tends to reduce after the first year of diagnosis.

Further Treatment For Inflammatory Bowel Disease Like Crohn’s disease 

Other than exercise and diet, other treatments are followed for symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females:

  • Antibiotics – A doctor will prescribe antibiotics for treating infections or complications if any. These could include Metronidazole and Ciprofloxacin.
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Antibiotic Metronidazole/Photo by Doctor 4U From Flickrwww.doctor-4-u.co.uk/)
  • Aminosalicylates (5-ASA) – These medicines are prescribed to treat mild to moderate symptoms of Crohn’s disease. They will decrease the inflammation that is lining the intestine.
  • Biologics – This is used to target a specific path in the immune system so that inflammation can be reduced. Doctors prescribe biologics only if all other treatments have failed.
  • Immune modulators – This medication suppresses the body’s immune system from inflammation. Some of the common immune modulators include Cyclosporine A, Azathioprine, Tacrolimus, and Mercaptopurine.
  • Bowel rest – People having severe Crohn’s disease symptoms will be advised bowel rest. This can stop severe diarrhea and, at the same time, rest the digestive system. Liquid foods are recommended, such as water and nutrient shakes.t like any drugs, these medications can also have adverse side effects.
  • Surgery – If medicines and lifestyle changes do not control the flare-ups of Crohn’s disease, then a small bowel resection may be advised. During small bowel resection, the diseased portion of the small intestine is removed. Large bowel resection may also be done to remove the diseased section of the large intestine.

Some medicines interact with other drugs that people with Crohn’s are taking. So it is always safe to speak to your doctor about the right choice of drugs.

Treatment of Crohn’s Disease Depends on its Severity

Usually, the treatment of any disease depends on its severity. The same goes for Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis. Treat Crohn’s disease well in advance as the treatment for this disease is decided on four levels of severity

1. Asymptomatic Reduction – In a few cases, no symptoms show after medical or surgical treatment. But if you have to take any steroids to remain asymptomatic, then you are not considered to be in the line of declination of this disease.

2. Mild to Moderate – You can normally eat without any major gastrointestinal problems or loss of weight and have some mild symptoms, then you require treatment.

3. Moderate to Severe – These symptoms include fever, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite, so you need to go in for treatment.

4. Severe Flare-ups – Symptoms will be very significant even on steroids or biological drugs. There could be inflammation, obstruction, or other severe symptoms then; you need to hurry up for treatment.

Treatment is generally started with drugs and antibiotics that have few side effects and fewer beneficial effects. Then it is given a step-up to steroids, biological drugs, or immune modulators depending on serious complications.

However, it has been noticed that when compared to conventional therapy, a more aggressive approach with early use of immune modulators and biologic therapies will lead to a higher remission rate and improved healing of intestinal lining.

The Bottom Line

Contracting any disease and going through the treatment is traumatic for anyone – men or women. But there are additional signs and symptoms of this disease, especially in females.

Consult a doctor or healthcare professional immediately if you feel you will develop Crohn’s disease.

The bottom line is that people with Crohn’s disease have to work in coordination with your health care team to find the apt treatment approach. Balancing the benefits of medications and their side effects, preference for injected or infused or oral drugs, and their effects should be discussed in detail with the health team.

I hope after reading this article you have got a general overview of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in females.

Remember, you need to take care and not allow any disease to overtake the quality of your life to remain healthy.

  1. Deveaux, Peter G., Jennifer Kimberling, and Susan Galandiuk. “Crohn’s disease: presentation and severity compared between black patients and white patients.” Diseases of the colon & rectum 48.7 (2005): 1404-1409. ↩︎
  2. Colitis-Pathophysiology, Ulcerative. “Inflammatory bowel disease part I: ulcerative colitis-pathophysiology and conventional and alternative treatment options.” Altern Med Rev 8.3 (2003): 247-83. ↩︎
  3. Diet, W. H. O. “Chronic Diseases.” Geneva: World Health Organization (2003). ↩︎
  4. Bhatia, Vikram, and Rakesh K. Tandon. “Stress and the gastrointestinal tract.” Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 20.3 (2005): 332-339. ↩︎
  5. Veauthier, Brian, and Jaime R. Hornecker. “Crohn’s disease: diagnosis and management.” American family physician 98.11 (2018): 661-669. ↩︎
  6. Talley, Nicholas J., et al. “Onset and disappearance of gastrointestinal symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorders.” American Journal of Epidemiology 136.2 (1992): 165-177. ↩︎

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

Author

Suchitra Rajan

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