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IBS is one of the most common reasons for work or school
absenteeism, second only to the common cold -- people with
IBS miss 3-4 times as many work days annually as the
national average of 5 days
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Among women, IBS is most prevalent during menstruation
years, with symptoms being most severe during postovulatory
and premenstrual phases
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Studies have found that over 50% of patients seeing a
gynecologist for lower abdominal pain have IBS
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Women with IBS are more likely than women with other bowel
symptoms to ultimately be diagnosed with endometriosis
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Women with IBS are three times more likely to receive a
hysterectomy than women without IBS
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Many individuals with IBS also suffer from non-GI symptoms –
2/3rds of IBS patients report rheumatological symptoms, such
as skin rashes, muscle contraction headache and myalgias
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Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome occurs in up to 60% of IBS
patients; up to 70% of patients with a diagnosis of FM have
symptoms of IBS
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Menstruation is associated with exacerbation of IBS symptoms
in the majority of women
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Pregnancy appears to improve IBS symptoms temporarily for
many women
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Oral estrogen and progesterone supplements do not seem to
have any effect on IBS symptom levels
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Irregular menses have no association with IBS symptom
severity
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Hysterectomy or tubal ligation appear to have little effect
on IBS severity
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Endometriosis increases bloating symptoms but not other
symptoms in IBS women
