Background: Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects quality of life. Sexual health is an important aspect of quality of life that has received little attention in IBS.
The aim of the work: To identify the effect of IBS on the sexual function of males and females in Egypt.  
Patients and Methods: This was a case-control study involving both genders with confirmed IBS diagnosis based on Rome IV criteria. One hundred patients [50 males and 50 females] and 100 age- and gender-matched controls were included. The validated Arabic version of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire [IIEF-5] was applied for males, and the validated version of the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI] was utilized to evaluate their sexual function.
Results: Our research included 50 sexually active married IBS women, whose ages varied from 18 to 50 years with a mean ±SD of 32.88±9.25, with no significant difference with the control group. Forty percent of male IBS patients had sexual dysfunction while 90% of female IBS group patients suffered from sexual dysfunction. Regarding the total IIEF-5 scores, a statistically significant variance was found among the IBS group and control group [p<0.05].
Conclusion: The findings of this research indicated that IBS affects the sexual function of patients of both genders, and the risk of erectile dysfunction [ED] increases with age. Further research exploring the impact of IBS on sexual function in different age groups and its specific effects on male and female sexual health may provide valuable insights for developing tailored interventions and treatment strategies.