Your IBD, your voice: Making treatment decisions is a team effort
Published: October 21, 2026
Sponsored by: Sanofi
A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can bring a lot of questions. An unexpected flare-up or a difficult day can leave you wondering what comes next and which treatment option is right for you.
The good news is that more inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments mean more possibilities. But to make the best decisions for your care, you first need to understand your options.
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. The experts on your care team are your partners, and they’re here to help. But you are the expert on your symptoms, your needs, and what matters most to you, which is an important part of what is called “shared decision-making.”
What is shared decision-making?
With shared decision-making, you and your care team work together to choose the right tests, treatments, and care plan for you.
Your IBD care team brings medical expertise, evidence, and treatment recommendations. You bring knowledge about your symptoms, daily life, priorities, concerns, and treatment goals.
Shared decision-making may look like:
Your doctor’s office showing you medical evidence in terms you understand to recommend a particular treatment, including the benefits and risks of a medication
You clearly communicating your preferences, values, and non-negotiables
The goal is to partner with your doctor and care team to find the best way to meet your current needs.
Start with your goals
The medical treatment of IBD has three main goals:
Achieving remission.
Maintaining remission and helping prevent symptoms or flare-ups.
Improving quality of life.
In addition to these goals, you may have other needs or wants for your care team to prioritize. To determine your specific, personal treatment goals, ask yourself:
What concerns me most about treatment?
What does a manageable treatment routine look like for me?
What symptoms are interfering most with my life right now?
What would feeling better allow me to do?
Your priorities may change over time. Your care team can work with you to assess your treatment as your needs change. You can also explore treatment options by using the IBD Medication Guide.
Before starting a treatment plan
Understanding what you can expect can help alleviate any stress or anxiety that may come with starting a new treatment.
You may want to ask your care team questions, such as:
What symptoms will this treatment alleviate?
Are there any complications, risk factors, or side effects that I should be aware of?
Is monitoring needed, and when should I contact my care team?
What are the potential benefits of this treatment plan?
What are realistic expectations?
How is this treatment administered and how often?
What does follow-up care look like?
Does my health insurance cover this?
Tell your care team about any worries or concerns you might have. Also, inform your care team about any personal health or life circumstances that may impact a treatment decision, such as:
Caregiving responsibilities
Discomfort with certain treatment routines, such as concerns over needles or self- injections
Other health conditions
Past treatments
Pregnancy or intended pregnancy
Recent vaccines
Upcoming travel plans
Remember, your preferences are part of, not separate from, an informed treatment decision.
Preparing for your appointment
To get the most from your next appointment, it can help to:
Bring someone you trust for extra support.
Fill out this conversation guide and goal tracker to share with your provider.
Track your symptoms and reactions to different medications.
Write a list of questions to ask your doctor.
Changes and reassessment are a normal part of an IBD treatment plan. Keep the conversation with your care team going through regular checkups and feedback about how your treatment is working and what can work better.
Support that can make a difference
Need someone to guide you in partnering with your doctor and making treatment decisions? Reach out to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s IBD Help Center for personalized support.
Thousands of people affected by Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis IBD turn to the IBD Help Center each year. Through meaningful one-on-one conversations, trained specialists combine trusted expertise with empathy to help people find resources, feel supported, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
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