Wiesbaden – November 04, 2026 -- Women with Crohn's disease waited a median of 12.6 months for a diagnosis, compared with 4.5 months for men, according to a multicenter study. The figures come as Germany marks Gastrointestinal Health Day on November 7.
Around 650,000 people in Germany live with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, two of the most common chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and exhaustion have many possible causes, so the path to a diagnosis can be long.
Ulcerative colitis shows the same gap
For ulcerative colitis, the median time to diagnosis was 2.7 months for men and 6.1 months for women.
Pregnancy plans can shape treatment choices
Gender-related differences can also affect treatment after diagnosis. For women of childbearing age, a possible pregnancy can influence which therapy is chosen. A possible pregnancy does not automatically mean a woman wants children, which is why open conversations between patients and doctors matter.
Biologist Mila Quirin, who has IBD and shares her experience on social media, advises patients, especially women, to talk openly with their doctor about their life situation, wishes and plans. In her view, the therapy should fit the life someone wants to lead.
An online tool helps patients prepare for appointments
The website leben-mit-ced.de offers a tool called CED-Disk. It covers ten areas of life, including pain, sleep, energy and emotions. Patients can use it to describe their current burdens and treatment goals in a structured way during their appointment.