Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis both result in abdominal pain, and it’s been found that women with endometriosis are at a higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome.
IBS is a functional disorder. Which means, it is not a disease per se, so the symptoms don’t have an identifiable cause. IBS patients show no clinical signs of a disease and often have normal test results. IBS is sometimes referred to as spastic colitis or mucous colitis, but that’s an erroneous nomenclature, as itis signifies inflammation and IBS does not cause inflammation. Although IBS is not such a critical condition, it can still severely affect one’s quality of life, as it can cause a great deal of discomfort and distress. The symptoms of IBS, ranging from mildly annoying to disabling, can interfere with a person’s social life, ability to work or travel, and also affect their self-image.
Endometriosis is a painful condition that affects an estimated one in 10 women during their reproductive years. Statistical studies show this works out to about 176 million women around the world between the ages of 15 and 49.
