January 30, 2026
2 min read
Key takeaways:
- LGBTQ+ individuals report multiple barriers to IBD care, including discrimination and insurance coverage gaps.
- Clinicians should strive to be inclusive and advocate for equitable access to care.
LAS VEGAS — LGBTQ+ individuals with inflammatory bowel disease experience multiple gaps and inequities in care when managing their condition, study results showed.
Among the most reported were negative clinical encounters, delays in diagnosis, insurance barriers, ineffective initial treatments and discrimination.
“These challenges were compounded by the emotional labor required to repeatedly explain their identities and medical histories in environments that were not always affirming,” Victor Chedid, MD, MS, consultant in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic, told Healio. “These intersecting stressors highlighted an urgent need to better understand how identityrelated experiences shape clinical outcomes in IBD.”
Chedid and colleagues examined the experiences and challenges of LGBTQ+ patients with IBD by conducting seven focus groups, the results of which were presented during Crohn’s & Colitis Congress.
“LGBTQ+ individuals living with IBD often face a dual burden: managing a chronic, complex disease while navigating stigma, discrimination and identity-related stressors within health care settings,” Chedid said. “Meaningful improvement will require clinicians and health systems to understand these experiences and intentionally build affirming, supportive and trauma-informed environments.”
‘Striking’ results
Chedid and colleagues invited individuals with IBD who self-reported as being of LGBTQ+ sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to participate in video focus groups. Of 850 individuals identified, 76 responded and 48 completed one of seven focus groups.
A moderator led discussions of participants’ experiences with IBD care, including how SOGI may impact that care, as well as how their disease affected social interactions and relationships.
The majority of participants reported symptoms that began in adolescence. Many experienced delayed diagnoses or misdiagnoses, as well as ineffective initial treatments.
Participants also reported that they had tried several treatments before achieving symptom relief. They cited multiple reasons for delays in effective care, including insurance not covering costs and complementary therapies not being offered or supported.
Another issue that was “striking,” according to Chedid, was reports of “aggressive, dismissive or incongruous care, particularly toward femme-presenting individuals.”
Participants also reported experiencing family-of-origin challenges in early IBD symptoms and SOGI, which led them to seek help from a “chosen family” of romantic partners and friends, he said. Communities became a key support network when navigating the health care system and participants’ IBD symptoms and care.
“These insights reveal not only clinical gaps but also the cultural and emotional dimensions affecting health outcomes,” Chedid told Healio.
Helpful interventions
Chedid provided several ways gastroenterologists can “meaningfully” improve health care experiences for LGBTQ+ patients with IBD:
- Prioritize SOGI-competent, trauma-informed care by taking histories and talking about IBD symptoms without preconceived ideas and biases.
- Provide identify-affirming supportive care, such as behavioral health, social work and patient navigation support designed for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Advocate for expanded insurance coverage for difficult-to-access treatments.
- Use inclusive educational materials that highlight LGBTQ+ experiences.
- Ensure that SOGI data collection and respectful communication are embedded into care workflows.
“Gastroenterologists should recognize that clinical excellence alone is not enough,” Chedid said. “For many LGBTQ+ patients, the quality of IBD care is deeply influenced by how safe, seen and understood they feel.”
For more information:
Victor Chedid, MD, MS, can be reached at chedid.victor@mayo.edu.
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Chedid V, et al. Experiences and challenges of LGBTQ+ individuals living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Insights from focus groups of a US sample. Presented at: Crohn’s & Colitis Congress; Jan. 22-24, 2026; Las Vegas.
Disclosures:
Chedid reports serving as a principal investigator on LGBTQ+ and IBD outcomes for a multicenter grant provided by Pfizer, as well as a consulting role with Takeda on LGBTQ+ health in IBD.
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