Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Menstrual Cycle

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Gynecology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder.
• Women with IBS often report symptom exacerbation linked to their menstrual cycle.
• Limited data exists on IBS symptom variability across menstrual cycle phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the variations in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) presentations during different phases of the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women.
• To understand the impact of menstrual cycle phases on the symptomatology and quality of life of female IBS patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 102 premenopausal female IBS patients were recruited from gastroenterology and gynecology outpatient departments.
• Patients completed questionnaires assessing IBS symptoms across three menstrual cycle phases (menstrual, follicular, luteal).
• Data was collected between June 2019 and December 2019.

Main Results:

• The majority of participants had IBS mixed (IBS-M) type, with a mean age in the mid-30s.
• Constipation was significantly more prevalent during the luteal phase (27.27%) compared to the menstrual phase (p=0.009).
• Over 50% experienced persistent abdominal bloating, significantly impacting quality of life. Symptoms were most severe during the menstrual phase, leading to greater daily activity limitations and physician consultations.

Conclusions:

• Premenopausal women with IBS experience heightened symptom severity during the menstrual phase.
• The menstrual phase significantly impacts the quality of life and daily functioning of IBS patients.
• Further research into hormonal influences on IBS is warranted.