Several other conditions can cause similar symptoms to IBS in females, including: PMS: People who only experience changes in bowel movements around their period may be experiencing PMS. This can also cause mood swings, breast tenderness, cramping, bloating, gassiness, and tiredness. Fibroids: Fibroids are growths in the wall of the uterus.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habit in the absence of a specific and unique organic pathology. Manifestations of IBS include altered bowel habit, abdominal pain and abdominal bloating/distention. The complications of IBS can affect the patient not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. The complications include intolerance to several food, vitamin and mineral deficiency, weight loss etc. Many people with moderate to severe IBS report poor quality of life. Research indicates that people with IBS miss three times as many days from work as do those without bowel symptoms. Experiencing the signs and symptoms of IBS can lead to depression or anxiety. Depression and anxiety also can make IBS worse.

Although the cause of IBS in older adults isn’t well known, the symptoms tend to be the same in younger adults. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain that’s usually related to bowel movements, diarrhea, and constipation. However other symptoms can include: How do you treat IBS in the elderly?

Because IBS shares some of the symptoms of other, more serious digestive diseases, it is essential that you see your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis. While you could have IBS, symptoms such as fever, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or vomiting likely indicate something else entirely. What foods can trigger IBS symptoms?

Many women (with and without IBS) experience variations in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms – including -during their menstrual cycle.

A 2020 study compared symptoms in IBS patients, including men and postmenopausal women 45 years or older, as well as men and premenopausal women under the age of 45. The researchers found that postmenopausal women with IBS had more severe IBS symptoms than premenopausal women, while men had no comparable age-related changes in symptoms.