From Puberty to Menopause: How IBD Care Evolves for Women Across a Lifespan

October 12, 2026October 11, 2026Leave a comment

As the years go by living with IBD, our health needs change and our IBD care should evolve with us. Women’s health in IBD is about so much more than pregnancy. Symptoms around menstruation, questions about contraception, puberty, sexual health, fertility, menopause, bone health, and cardiovascular health are all legitimate parts of your IBD care. Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California recently held their second annual Women’s Health in IBD Conference.

Dr. Puja Khanna, MD, spearheads the conference and wanted to share more about the key takeaways and where she sees personalized medicine moving in regard to women’s health now and into the future. This week on Lights, Camera, Crohn’s, Dr. Khanna shares incredible guidance that will leave you feeling empowered as you navigate all the joys of being a female living with IBD.

Personalized IBD care for women

We have become very sophisticated at phenotyping IBD—Crohn’s versus ulcerative colitis, disease location, behavior, biomarkers, and prior medication exposure. But we have been much less sophisticated about incorporating a woman’s life stage into that same personalized approach.

“A 14-year-old navigating puberty, a 28-year-old choosing contraception, a 35-year-old planning pregnancy and a 52-year-old entering menopause may have exactly the same Crohn’s phenotype on paper, but they do not necessarily have the same health priorities or the same risks.”

Dr. Khanna thinks the future of precision medicine in IBD needs to include not only what kind of IBD a patient has, but also where a woman is in her life, and what she needs at that specific life stage.

Navigating hormonal shifts

Hormones can intersect with IBD throughout a woman’s entire life—from puberty and menstruation, through contraception and pregnancy, and into perimenopause and menopause.

“I want women to understand that changes in symptoms do not always mean their IBD is becoming more active. Hormonal shifts can affect bowel habits, fatigue, pain, sleep, and mood, and sometimes those symptoms can look like an IBD flare,” Dr. Khanna explains. “The good news is that we increasingly have tools such as fecal calprotectin, blood markers and intestinal ultrasound that can help us distinguish symptoms from true intestinal inflammation rather than simply guessing.”

Recognizing that your GI team is a safe space

As a woman who has lived with Crohn’s disease for over 21 years, I know from my own personal experience how important it is to feel comfortable bringing these issues up to your GI team. Women’s health and IBD are all part of the comprehensive care you should be receiving. Questions about periods, contraception, sexual health, fertility, menopause, bone health, and even cardiovascular health are all part of comprehensive IBD care.

“I want women to feel empowered. Their health needs are going to change throughout their lives, and their IBD care should change with them. The goal is not simply to control inflammation—it is to help women with IBD stay healthy and thrive through every stage of life,” says Dr. Khanna.

The intersection of each chapter in a woman’s life with IBD

While pregnancy remains incredibly important, it’s important to remember that the child-bearing years are just one chapter in a woman’s life with IBD. It’s becoming increasingly understood that each touchpoint in a woman’s development and aging intersects with IBD in different ways.

Dr. Khanna says, “Research is beginning to reflect that broader view. Recent reviews are specifically looking at IBD from puberty through menopause rather than treating women’s health as synonymous with pregnancy. The next step is translating that into routine clinical care, where we proactively ask women about these issues rather than waiting for them to bring them up.”

Gaining a better understanding of hormones and their impact on IBD

Hormones used to be thought of as almost an on-off switch—more estrogen or less estrogen and perhaps more or less inflammation. We now appreciate that it is far more complicated.

“Estrogen and progesterone interact with receptors on intestinal epithelial and immune cells and may influence intestinal permeability, immune signaling, gastrointestinal motility and even the gut microbiome,” says Dr. Khanna. “At the same time, the microbiome can influence estrogen metabolism through what is sometimes called the “estrobolome.” Genetics, medications, diet, and underlying inflammation are interacting with all these pathways.”

The important caveat is that much of the mechanistic science is ahead of the clinical evidence.

“We understand the biologic plausibility much better than we did a decade ago, but we cannot yet predict an individual woman’s IBD course based on hormone levels.”

Puberty and IBD

Dr. Khanna recommends parents watch out for the overall trajectory rather than any single symptom. Ask yourself:

Is she growing appropriately?

Is she gaining weight?

Is puberty progressing normally?

Are menstrual periods developing normally?

Is she unusually fatigued or becoming iron deficient?

Has her appetite changed?

“Growth failure or delayed puberty can be a manifestation of inadequately controlled IBD, particularly Crohn’s disease. Chronic inflammation, inadequate nutrition, and corticosteroid exposure can all interfere with growth, pubertal development, and the accumulation of bone mass during a period when young women should be building the foundation for their future bone health,” says. Dr. Khanna.

We should not automatically dismiss significant weight loss, delayed puberty, persistent fatigue, or major menstrual abnormalities as simply being part of adolescence.

Dr. Khanna says, “We do not have compelling evidence that puberty itself simply “switches on” IBD activity. In fact, one of the clearest relationships goes in the other direction: uncontrolled inflammation and poor nutrition can delay growth and puberty.”

It’s important to note—sex hormones interact with the immune system, intestinal barrier, and microbiome, so puberty is occurring during a period of tremendous biologic change. What ultimately happens to an individual patient is probably determined by the interaction of hormones with genetics, immune regulation, nutrition, microbiome composition, medications, and the underlying behavior of her IBD.

Symptoms peaking during your period?

This is such an important distinction because more symptoms do not necessarily mean more inflammation. Read that again.

“More than half of women in a large IBD cohort reported worsening symptoms during menstruation, and other studies have shown increases in diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and bowel frequency around the menstrual cycle,” says Dr. Khanna. “Hormonal fluctuations and prostaglandins can change intestinal motility and visceral sensitivity even when the IBD itself remains controlled.”

Dr. Khanna asks her patients about the pattern. If the symptoms predictably occur around every menstrual cycle, resolve as the period ends, and the patient otherwise feels well, that makes a hormonal contribution more likely. If symptoms are progressively worsening, persisting beyond the menstrual window or accompanied by features such as rectal bleeding, nocturnal diarrhea, weight loss, or persistent systemic symptoms, she becomes more concerned about inflammatory activity.

“A predictable, short-lived pattern that happens at approximately the same point in every cycle and then returns to baseline is reassuring, particularly in someone whose IBD has otherwise been objectively well controlled,” she explains.

Dr. Khanna says she would want a patient to contact her when something is different from the usual pattern:

Symptoms are becoming progressively more severe
Symptoms continue well beyond the menstrual period
Development of new rectal bleeding
Persistent nighttime symptoms,
Fever
Weight loss
Dehydration
Significant anemia or fatigue
Not returning to baseline

“One of the messages I want women to hear is: you do not have to decide on your own whether this is hormones or IBD. That is exactly where objective monitoring can help,” says Dr. Khanna.

Diagnostic tools that help make the distinction between hormonal symptoms and inflammation

Fecal calprotectin is particularly useful because it gives a relatively noninvasive measure of intestinal inflammation. Your GI can also look at blood markers such as CRP, although CRP is not equally sensitive in every patient.

“Intestinal ultrasound is another exciting tool because it allows us to look directly for features of bowel inflammation—such as increased bowel-wall thickness and vascularity—without radiation and often right in the clinic. Depending on the situation, cross-sectional imaging or endoscopy may also be appropriate,” says. Dr. Khanna.

The larger point is that modern IBD care increasingly allows doctors to separate symptom burden from inflammatory burden. That distinction is extremely important for women whose symptoms fluctuate with hormonal transitions.

Hormonal contraception and IBD activity

Overall, Dr. Khanna says there is not convincing evidence that hormonal contraception consistently causes established IBD to flare. Older cohort data and European guidelines have generally been reassuring, although a 2025 systematic review emphasized that the available studies are heterogeneous and the certainty of the evidence remains low.

“For me, the bigger issue with estrogen-containing contraception is often not disease activity but blood-clot risk. IBD itself increases the risk of venous thromboembolism, particularly during active disease, hospitalization, surgery, or corticosteroid exposure. The CDC therefore recommends individualized assessment before using combined estrogen-containing contraception in women with IBD who have additional thrombotic risk factors,” explains Dr. Khanna.

Long-acting options such as an IUD or implant can be excellent choices for many women.

“We also must think about bone health when considering depot medroxyprogesterone and about absorption of oral contraception in women with significant small-bowel disease or extensive resections. The contraceptive conversation should really be individualized.”

Emerging data on perimenopause and IBD

During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone do not simply decline in a straight line—they can fluctuate considerably.

Dr Khanna says, “Those hormonal changes may affect intestinal motility, visceral sensitivity, immune regulation, intestinal barrier function, and the microbiome. That creates the potential for changes in GI symptoms even when inflammatory disease activity has not changed.”

But we need to be very clear about the limitations of the evidence. A recent systematic review found only 15 studies addressing menopause and IBD, and most women did not report a major change in their IBD after menopause, although a subset did worsen. We need much more prospective research during the actual perimenopausal transition.

The overlap between perimenopause and IBD symptoms

There is tremendous overlap, which is exactly why this can be challenging.

“Fatigue can come from active inflammation, anemia, poor sleep, or menopause. Joint pain can be an extraintestinal manifestation of IBD, but musculoskeletal symptoms also become common during the menopausal transition. Bowel habits can change because of IBD, but hormones can also influence motility and visceral sensitivity.”

Dr. Khanna says instead of attributing everything to either IBD or menopause, she prefers to ask two questions simultaneously: Could her IBD be active, and could menopause be contributing to how she feels?

“We can then use her clinical pattern together with CBC, iron studies when appropriate, CRP, fecal calprotectin and sometimes intestinal ultrasound or endoscopy to determine whether inflammation is actually present.”

Just like disease journey, menopause is experienced uniquely, too

Biologically, two women are not experiencing the same transition. They may have different IBD phenotypes, different levels of baseline inflammation, different prior surgeries, different medications, different microbiomes, different genetic susceptibility and different responses to estrogen and progesterone signaling. One woman may also have overlapping IBS, pelvic-floor dysfunction, or musculoskeletal symptoms that another woman does not.

Even the hormonal transition itself varies enormously between women.

“That heterogeneity is one of the reasons I do not think we will ever have a simple statement that “menopause makes IBD better” or “menopause makes IBD worse.” The 2025 systematic review reflects that variability: most women had no major change, while subsets reported worsening or improvement,” Dr. Khanna says.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and IBD—Yay or nay?

The available evidence is reassuring, but it remains limited.

“An older study suggested less IBD activity among postmenopausal women using hormone therapy, and a more recent multicenter retrospective study also found improvement in physician-assessed disease activity after HRT. The newest systematic review concluded that hormone therapy may reduce flare severity but emphasized how limited the evidence remains.”

Dr. Khanna says she would not prescribe hormone therapy as a treatment for IBD, because we do not have evidence to support that. But having IBD by itself should not automatically exclude a woman from receiving appropriate treatment for bothersome menopausal symptoms.

This is a shared decision involving the patient, her women’s health provider and, when appropriate, her gastroenterologist. Remember it’s a team approach—keep your providers in the loop and don’t silo your “women’s health issues” to one provider, make sure your gastroenterologist knows what you’re experiencing, too.

Considerations for Estrogen-containing therapy, progesterone, or menopausal treatments

Women with IBD already have an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots), particularly when their disease is active. Oral estrogen can also increase thrombotic risk. For women with increased VTE risk, data from the broader menopause literature suggest that transdermal estradiol has a more favorable thrombotic profile than oral estrogen.

“We also consider whether the woman has a uterus, because systemic estrogen generally requires an appropriate progestogen to protect the endometrium, as well as her age, time since menopause, cardiovascular history, smoking, prior thrombosis, breast-cancer risk, migraine history, bone health and current IBD activity,” explains Dr. Khanna.

So, it should not be “IBD equals no hormones.” It should be a thoughtful, individualized risk-benefit assessment.

Being Proactive with Bone Health

IBD can affect bone health through chronic inflammation, malnutrition, low body weight, and corticosteroid exposure, and then menopause adds the accelerated bone loss associated with declining estrogen.

Current AGA guidance recommends considering bone-density testing in people with IBD who have risk factors including low BMI, more than three cumulative months of corticosteroid exposure, smoking, hypogonadism, or postmenopausal status. Even in the absence of additional risk factors, bone densitometry should be considered in postmenopausal women with IBD.

I personally have had a “bone health doctor” for the past four years. It blows my mind how many people with IBD I speak to who never had a baseline bone scan. My first bone scan was at age 26. Bring this up to your GI, it’s important to be proactive rather than reactive. Now, at 43, given my history of Crohn’s, anemia, past steroid exposure, and my age, I get a bone scan every two years.

“I also think about vitamin D status, adequate calcium intake—preferably through diet when possible—regular weight-bearing and resistance exercise, adequate protein, minimizing unnecessary steroid exposure, avoiding smoking, fall prevention and treating osteopenia or osteoporosis when indicated,” says Dr. Khanna.

For women with IBD, bone health should become part of the menopause conversation before the first fracture occurs.

Working together across specialties

One of the biggest gaps in medicine has been that women with IBD have often had to navigate their gastroenterological health and their women’s health in parallel rather than together.

That is beginning to change.

“We are learning that hormonal transitions can influence symptoms, immunity, the intestinal barrier, the microbiome, bone health, cardiovascular risk and quality of life—but we also have to be careful not to attribute every change a woman experiences to hormones.”

Dr. Khanna says the opportunity now is to build a model of care where gastroenterology and women’s health truly intersect across the lifespan.

“That means asking better questions, using objective measures of inflammation when symptoms are ambiguous, collaborating across specialties and making sure women have the information they need to advocate for themselves. For me, that is really the future of women’s health in IBD.”

One final piece of advice

I asked Dr. Khanna if she could give women with IBD one piece of advice about navigating their disease through puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause, what she would want them to know.

“I would tell them: Do not assume that every symptom is your IBD but also do not assume that everything is “just hormones.” Ask the question and let us help you figure it out.”

When it comes to future IBD and Women’s Health Conferences through Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Khanna would love to expand the reach of the program well beyond the women who can physically attend a conference in Los Angeles.

“We are exploring virtual collaborations and opportunities to connect with colleagues and patients in other communities so that education around women’s health and IBD can become more accessible. I would like to see women’s health become an integrated part of excellent IBD care everywhere—not a niche topic or something we discuss only when a woman becomes pregnant.”

College Readiness With IBD: What Students and Families Need to Know

February 16, 2026February 16, 2026Leave a comment

Transitioning to college with Inflammatory Bowel Disease is both an academic and healthcare milestone. IBD is an unpredictable, relapsing condition. A person managing urgency, fatigue, medication side effects, or active inflammation is already navigating challenges their peers are not. IBD may shape certain logistics along the way, but it does not have to define your entire college experience.

As someone who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 21, two months after graduating from Marquette University, I did not require these accommodations, but looking back at that part of my life (20+ years ago), I would have needed and really benefited from this information had I been diagnosed younger.

This week on Lights, Camera, Crohn’s we hear from Amanda Vispo, MSW, LCSW, a Clinical Social Worker from the IBD Center at Boston Children’s Hospital about tips for overcoming challenges during this chapter of life and knowing what accommodations provide the best equity and access for everyone in our community.

The shift from high school to college

Ideally, families should begin considering accommodations during junior year of high school, even if a teen is feeling well.

“I often describe accommodations as an insurance policy. We are not anticipating decline. However, if a flare occurs, we want patients focused on recovery rather than scrambling to put supports in place,” Amanda advises. “A pattern I frequently see is patients in remission during campus visits underestimating what they might need during a flare. Sharing a bathroom with an entire floor can feel very different during active symptoms. Mid-year housing changes are not always possible.”

In appointments, Amanda asks patients to think about a particularly difficult flare day. Not to alarm them, but to encourage honest reflection. What did they need? How often were they in the bathroom? How fatigued were they? What helped at home?

“We then discuss how to replicate those supports in a college setting. Planning early preserves flexibility, waiting can limit options.”

College marks a meaningful shift in responsibility. In high school, accommodations are proactive and team driven. Parents are automatically involved, and systems monitor progress closely.

“In college, students must self-identify and initiate contact with disability services. Once accommodations are approved, the student becomes the primary communicator with professors, says Amanda. “Understanding this shift early makes the transition smoother. Transition planning is not only about documentation, but also about building confidence and developing self-advocacy skills that extend well beyond college.”

What steps can high school patients take now to make the transition smoother?

Preparation happens gradually. Students can begin with:

Practicing how to clearly describe the functional impact of their symptoms
Learning their medication schedule and treatment basics
Communicating directly with providers
Thinking intentionally about housing needs and daily symptom patterns

Small steps toward autonomy build lasting confidence.

Reframing accommodations as tools

Accommodations do not lower academic standards; they remove barriers created by symptoms outside a patient’s control. Equity means recognizing that not everyone starts from the same physical baseline.

Amanda says, “Adjusting the environment through flexible attendance, housing, or testing supports ensures patients have a fair opportunity to demonstrate their ability. That is not special treatment. It is equitable access.”

Flares can occur without warning, and their duration and severity are difficult to predict. Accommodations can provide predictability within that uncertainty.

“When patients know they can leave class without penalty, take stop-the-clock exam breaks, or rely on stable housing, it reduces anticipatory anxiety. That reduction in stress matters because heightened stress can worsen GI symptoms and complicate disease management.”

Having established accommodations allows students with IBD to focus on healing during flares instead of managing academic logistics.

Knowing how to communicate with disability services

When preparing patients for conversations with disability services, Amanda reminds them they are not navigating this process alone. GI teams play an important role in advocacy.

“We provide detailed letters outlining the diagnosis, treatment plan, the relapsing nature of the condition, and recommended accommodations. Many colleges also require medical verification forms, which providers complete to ensure disability services has clear documentation,” says Amanda.

The patient’s role is not to prove their illness, but to explain how symptoms affect their academic experience. Amanda encourages her patients to focus on functional impact rather than diagnosis alone.

For example, a patient might explain:

During flares, I may need urgent restroom access multiple times per class.
I receive infusions every six to eight weeks that require travel and recovery.
Fatigue affects my ability to attend early morning classes.
There are periods when I can complete coursework but may not tolerate being physically present.

Clear, specific descriptions help disability services understand how symptoms translate into academic impact. When paired with medical documentation, this creates a complete picture.

Accommodations to seek out

One support Amanda strongly encourages her patients to consider is priority or early course registration.

IBD symptoms often follow patterns. Some patients struggle more in the mornings. Others experience worsening symptoms later in the day. Many travel home periodically for infusions or follow-up care. Priority registration allows patients to:

Choose class times that align with when they function best
Avoid stacking multiple demanding courses back-to-back
Build in buffer days for medical appointments

This is not about lowering expectations. It is about working with the body rather than constantly pushing against it. Other helpful accommodations may include:

Housing assignments best suited to medical needs
Flexible attendance policies for medically excused absences
Access to lecture recordings
Modified deadlines during acute flares
Permission to bring necessary food or drinks into class

Housing and medical stability

Urgency and frequency are hallmark symptoms of IBD, particularly during flares. Sharing a hallway bathroom with many peers can increase anxiety and reduce privacy. Because stress can exacerbate GI symptoms, reducing that stress supports disease management. Additionally:

Some people require rectally administered medications that necessitate privacy
Patients on immunosuppressive therapies may benefit from reduced exposure in shared spaces
Fatigue is common, and stable sleep supports disease control

Private rooms, single-occupancy or lower-trafficked bathrooms, or suite-style housing with a lower patient-to-bathroom ratio can meaningfully reduce stress and preserve dignity. These are practical components of symptom management.

Managing the stress and guilt students often feel

Amanda says she hears this all the time. Patients will say, “I don’t want special treatment,” or “I should be able to handle it.” Managing a chronic illness already requires resilience. Those with IBD are navigating inflammation, fatigue, medication effects, and unpredictability, often invisibly.

Amanda wants those with IBD to know, “Accommodations ensure those with chronic illnesses are not penalized for something outside their control. Anticipating needs and putting support in place reflects responsibility, not weakness. There is no shame in using tools that allow full participation.”

Final Thoughts

College should be a time of exploration, independence, and possibility, not a test of how much suffering someone can quietly endure. Living with IBD means carrying an unpredictable disease into a setting built for predictability, but with the right supports in place, students can thrive both academically and medically.

Proactive accommodations are not a backup plan for when things go wrong; they are a foundation that allows students to fully engage when things go right. Planning ahead, practicing self-advocacy, and partnering with a GI care team transforms college from a period of constant vigilance into one of growth, confidence, and opportunity. IBD may shape the path, but it does not need to limit the destination.

From Pediatric Patient to College Student: Taylor’s Journey with Crohn’s

May 27, 2025May 27, 2025Leave a comment

When most kids were running around their middle schools full of energy and excitement, Taylor Gautney was quietly fighting an invisible battle. In sixth grade, while his classmates joined extracurriculars and laughed through lunch breaks, Taylor was barely making it through the day. Many afternoons were spent passed out on the couch after going the entire day without eating. One day, after skipping lunch again, he collapsed on his way back to class. That moment changed everything.

At first, doctors suspected celiac disease. He was placed on a gluten-free diet after an initial endoscopy, but nothing improved. For years, the mystery lingered—until a more thorough examination revealed the real culprit: Crohn’s disease. A new diagnosis, a new treatment—Humira—and a new outlook on life began to take shape.

Now in remission and attending Arizona State University (ASU), Taylor has transformed his story from one of struggles to one of strength. But it wasn’t always easy. This week on Lights, Camera, Crohn’s a firsthand look at what it was like to be diagnosed with IBD at such a young age and how his first year of college went living across the country from his family.

“Just Keep Fighting”

Looking back, Taylor wishes he could tell his younger self one thing: “Just keep fighting and enjoying the positives in life.” Being diagnosed with a chronic illness at age 11 felt like a devastating detour. He admits that it changed the way he viewed the world and himself. “I started to think of every aspect of life as negative,” he recalls. But over time, Taylor learned to embrace small joys, and most importantly, to appreciate the unwavering support of his family.

Taylor’s mom, Anna, says, “It’s crucial to advocate for your child and speak up for them if medications are not working. It is also important to showcase to your child that you are in this with them, help them find a community, such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. This way, they can meet people who have what they have and formulate a sense of belonging.”

Holding On Through the Hard Days

Taylor wants young people diagnosed with IBD to know that while the patient experience is incredibly challenging—often filled with procedures and surgery, flare days, and quiet battles with your own body, it doesn’t define who you are. “People can’t see the diagnosis from the outside, they see your personality and exterior self,” he says. “Just be yourself, let people come to you and support you, especially during a rough time like an IBD diagnosis.”

The Power of Family

Taylor credits his parents for being the steady foundation beneath his feet throughout the rollercoaster of diagnoses and treatments. “My mom has been my rock,” he says. She’s been by his side at almost every appointment and has researched tirelessly to understand Crohn’s. Taylor’s dad always makes time to show Taylor the world with family trips and unshakable support. “They have given everything to me and made my life so much easier after the diagnosis.”

Life at ASU with IBD

Taylor’s transition to college life came with its own set of hurdles, including logistical nightmares like getting his medication delivered to campus. But he’s found his rhythm. “It’s definitely not as hard as I thought it would be,” he says. One surprising blessing? His roommate. “He also had a medical condition that required shots, pills, and daily maintenance,” Taylor says. Their shared experiences helped them form an instant bond, even leading to grocery trips for IBD-friendly dorm snacks.

Taylor’s professors and friends have also shown deep compassion. He remembers an English professor who read about his condition in a personal essay and went out of her way to learn more about Crohn’s. “She made me feel really special and seen,” he says. His friends check in on him, make sure he’s got his injections, and understand when he needs to sit out from social events. “I thank my friends at ASU for their understanding and empathy.”

A Voice for the Voiceless

Studying sports journalism, Taylor dreams of becoming a play-by-play broadcaster for Major League Baseball—ideally for the Atlanta Braves. But his passion extends beyond sports. He wants to use his voice to make an impact and tell meaningful stories. One of the most pivotal moments in his life came when he was asked to be the Pediatric Honored Hero for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Birmingham walk. “That one event gave me confidence to speak in public and really sparked my love for communication,” he says.

Now connected with the Arizona-New Mexico chapter of the Foundation, Taylor is committed to giving back. His mission? To reach kids and teens who are newly diagnosed and remind them they are not alone.

Final thoughts

Taylor and I connected after he was doing research for a college project and reached out to interview me about my patient experience and advocacy work. During our initial Zoom interview, I was so blown away by his positive attitude and how he takes on life with IBD. I asked him during the call if I could have the honor of sharing his story. While there are male patient advocates—we need more who are willing to share their story.

Taylor is wise beyond his years, so articulate, genuine, and kind. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to his future. If anything, living with Crohn’s disease since age 11 has helped show him all he’s capable of despite his disease.

You can connect with Taylor by following him on Instagram: @t.gautney or by emailing him: tgautney@asu.edu.

Empowering Teens: A Guide to Scholarships for College-Bound Students with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

February 24, 2025February 24, 2025Leave a comment

Millions of people worldwide live with IBD. For teenagers with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, the challenges are multi-faceted—not only must they manage their health, but they also face the pressures of academic life, dealing with physical and emotional challenges their peers can’t relate to, and the daunting costs of higher education. Thankfully, several scholarship programs exist to support students dealing with IBD, offering financial assistance, and fostering a sense of community and empowerment.

This week on Lights, Camera, Crohn’s a look at what scholarships are available and tips for applying. This story idea was inspired by a caregiver who sent me a direct message on Instagram asking if her teenage daughter could be awarded a scholarship for going above and beyond scholastically despite having IBD. I wasn’t aware of what is available—and in working on this article I did my research as though I was a teen/caregiver looking up scholarships geared towards those with IBD.

Why IBD Scholarships Matter

Teens with IBD often navigate difficult symptoms, frequent medical appointments, and hospitalizations. Despite these challenges, many young people with IBD excel academically, participate in extracurricular activities, and remain determined to pursue higher education. Scholarships tailored to their needs can ease the financial burden of college tuition and provide a sense of validation for their hard work and resilience.

In addition to financial relief, these scholarships can help build a sense of camaraderie among students with similar experiences. IBD scholarships are a powerful way for these teens to connect, share their stories, and feel supported and empowered in their journey toward college and beyond.

Notable Scholarships for Teens with IBD

Abbvie Immunology Scholarship: The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship aims to reduce the financial burden for students impacted by inflammatory diseases. It is awarded to 45 students. Recipients pursuing an associate degree will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Those pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree/PhD will receive a $15,000 scholarship.

The Salix Gastrointestinal Health Scholarship Award: Ten scholarships to 10 outstanding students living with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and disorders who are pursuing their higher education goals. The 2025-2026 application period opened February 10, 2025, and the end date to apply is May 5, 2025.

Patient Advocate Foundation – Scholarship” In 2000, PAF established the Scholarship for Survivors program to honor these individuals by offering educational scholarships to students who have suffered (or are suffering) from cancer or a chronic illness. The deadline for submissions is March 7, 2025.

180 Medical Scholarship Program: The 180 Medical Scholarship Program is open to full-time college students living with specific medical conditions, including spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, transverse myelitis, neurogenic bladder, or an ostomy (ileostomy, colostomy, and/or urostomy). They offer seven $1,000 college scholarships annually to seven recipients. Accepting applications through June 1, 2025. Recipients are announced in August.

AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability: Awarded annually to deserving students with a disability who are pursuing undergraduate/graduate studies in an accredited university and who are pursuing studies related to health and disability. Scholarships are generally $1,000.

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Disability Scholarship Program: The Disability Scholarship was established in 2014 as part of the law firm’s commitment to helping students with disabilities or injuries who need financial assistance for educational purposes. The scholarship awards $1,000 to one student. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2025.

Defining the Disability Scholarship: The attorneys at the Berkowitz Hanna Malpractice and Injury Lawyers offer a $1,000 scholarship to help a student overcome a disability. Students define what disability means to them and explain how disability has been part of their life. Applications are not being accepted right now but stay tuned for 2025.

Lawrence Madeiros Scholarship: The Larence Madeiros Scholarship Fund was formed to provide awareness of chronic disorders to the public and to stimulate, foster, and encourage interest, awareness, and activism at the state and national level with reference to the fight against chronic disorders. The scholarship is awarded to high school seniors living with a chronic disorder and continuing their education at a college or university. The deadline for applying is May 1, 2025.

Overcoming Disability Scholarship: The Law Offices of Coats & Todd Overcoming Disability Scholarship awards $2,500 scholarships twice a year to college students who are managing a disability while attending school. To qualify, students must have a physical or psychological disability that affects their ability to work. The deadline for applying is March 26, 2025. Their team can be reached at: scholarships@coatsandtoddlaw.com

IBD Connects Scholarship Program: To support the educational aspirations of students impacted by IBD, IBD Connect awards two annual scholarships, each valued at $1,000, to eligible applicants enrolled in a U.S. college, university, or trade/vocational school for the upcoming academic year. The application program opens March 1, 2025, and ends May 31, 2025. For any questions regarding the Scholarship Program, email Lisa Fournier: lisafournier@ibdconnectinc.org.

It’s important to note there may be other IBD-related scholarships available, this list reflects what I discovered upon researching this article.

Additional Scholarship Resources

Beyond disease-specific scholarships, many general scholarships and grants are available to students with disabilities or health conditions. Websites like Scholarships.com, Niche, and Unigo allow users to search for scholarships based on specific needs, including chronic illness or disabilities.

To search for more scholarships that you may qualify for, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website and the U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search database. You can search for scholarships based on the state you live in, your degree program, and your future goals.

Additionally, some universities even offer their own scholarships for students with disabilities, including those affected by IBD. It’s always a good idea to contact the admissions or financial aid office of the school you’re interested in to inquire about any opportunities.

Tips for Applying for IBD Scholarships

Start Early: Many scholarships have early deadlines, so it’s important to start the application process well in advance of the due dates.
Tell Your Story: Your personal experience with IBD is what sets you apart. Be honest and heartfelt in your essays, sharing how IBD has shaped you as a person and student.
Gather Documents: Be prepared to provide documentation of your diagnosis, along with transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Stay Organized: Keep track of all deadlines, required documents, and any special instructions for each scholarship.

Final thoughts

For teens living with IBD, pursuing a college education can be a difficult but achievable goal. Scholarships specifically designed for students with IBD can alleviate financial stress, validate personal resilience, and provide a network of support. I was “lucky” in the respect that I was not diagnosed with Crohn’s disease until two months after college graduation, so I did not have to navigate these challenges while furthering my education and moving away from home. Along with scholarships, it’s important for caregivers and students with IBD to communicate the need for accommodations on the college campus—this can range from having a bathroom in or near your dorm room to having extra time to complete assignments. Click here to read another Lights, Camera, Crohn’s article that digs deeper into this topic.

As more awareness is raised about the challenges of IBD, opportunities for scholarships and grants continue to grow, ensuring that students with IBD can thrive academically without being held back by their condition.

Additional Resources

Taking IBD to School | Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

Disability Support Services | Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

10 Tips for Dealing with IBD in College – Managing IBD at School | Michigan Medicine

Starting College with Ulcerative Colitis

College Students with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Qualitative Study of Challenges Associated with College Transition and Self-Care – PMC

A Guide for How to Thrive in College With Crohn’s Disease

Navigating College with IBD – IBD Connect

How to Handle College if You have Crohn’s or UC

College and IBD Handbook – ImproveCareNow

Back to school tips

Preparing for College Life with Crohn’s Disease