It is always best to speak with your healthcare provider on the best treatment options for you.
Now let's take a look at IBS.
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome affects 10-15% of the global population and is defined as recurrent symptoms of abdominal pain and changes in stool consistency.
There are several sub-types of IBS: some people with IBS experience diarrhea (IBS-D), others have constipation (IBS-C), and some (rather unlucky) people have to manage both symptoms on an ongoing basis (IBS-M).
While some foods may trigger a flare-up of gut symptoms, IBS is not thought to be caused by food intolerances alone. In fact, it’s now known that people with IBS experience a miscommunication between their mind and their gut, also known as the gut-brain link, which can lead to an onset of IBS symptoms.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
The most common symptoms can include abdominal bloating, excessive wind, and nausea.
For some people, these symptoms are mildly irritating, whereas, for others, they are debilitating and can last anywhere from hours to days, or even weeks.
It’s also not uncommon for people to describe symptoms outside of the gastrointestinal tract.
This can include symptoms such as:
fatigue
sleep disturbances
foggy-headedness
poor concentration
irritability
anxiety and depression.
How can IBS be managed?
There are various options for managing IBS symptoms including:
What causes IBS?
While the exact cause of IBS is unknown, several factors that often play a role include intestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, microbiota, and brain-gut interactions.
What do IBS and endometriosis have in common?
As you can probably tell by now, there are many symptoms that IBS and endometriosis share, hence why these conditions can often be misdiagnosed.
Studies have reported that women with IBS and endometriosis shared the same physical symptoms.
Common physical symptoms include:
Common psychological symptoms include:
Another research study with premenopausal women found significant associations between endometriosis and IBS, further substantiating the misdiagnoses that can occur without proper medical screening.
The Wrap Up
Both IBS and endometriosis are serious health conditions that require a formal medical diagnosis. While they share common symptoms, they are remarkably different and require highly specific treatments to help manage symptoms. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider.
References
Bontempo AC, Mikesell L. Patient perceptions of misdiagnosis of endometriosis: results from an online national survey. Diagnosis (Berl). 2020;7(2):97-106. doi:10.1515/dx-2019-0020
DiVasta AD, Zimmerman LA, Vitonis AF, Fadayomi AB, Missmer SA. Overlap Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis and Endometriosis in Adolescents. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;19(3):528-537.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2020.03.014
Endometriosis. Who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis. Published 2022. Accessed June 24, 2022.
Parasar P, Ozcan P, Terry KL. Endometriosis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Clinical Management. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep. 2017;6(1):34-41. doi:10.1007/s13669-017-0187-1
Tan G, Hammond DC, Joseph G. Hypnosis and irritable bowel syndrome: a review of efficacy and mechanism of action. Am J Clin Hypn. 2005;47(3):161-178. doi:10.1080/00029157.2005.10401481
Warzecha D, Szymusik I, Wielgos M, Pietrzak B. The Impact of Endometriosis on the Quality of Life and the Incidence of Depression-A Cohort Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(10):3641. Published 2020 May 21. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103641
What are the treatments for endometriosis?. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/endometri/conditioninfo/treatment. Published 2022. Accessed June 24, 2022.
