GENDER DIFFERENCES IN IBS
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome is the frustrating and challenging condition that causes chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in roughly 15% of the U.S. population. We know that IBS tends to affect women more frequently than men at about a 1.5 to 1 ratio. Though since women are more likely to actually seek medical care for their symptoms, doctors end up seeing a 2-4:1 ratio of women more frequently than men.
Check out this fascinating article about some of the reasons WHY and HOW women are affected differently than men:
Women have constipation predominant or mixed constipation and diarrhea symptoms more frequently (as well as greater levels of accompanying pain and bloating) and men have diarrhea predominant symptoms more frequently. WHY?
- Estrogen and Progesterone impact the function of the bowel and gut motility. Most women know this and have appreciated a difference in bowel habits at different phases of their menstrual cycle (slow down mid-cycle and speed up when their period begins). Higher levels of estrogen and progesterone may have an INHIBITORY effect on the muscle function of the bowel (contributing to the tendency to slow down).
- Men have intrinsically faster intestinal transit times.
- Androgens, like testosterone, have somewhat of an analgesic effect and can help decrease pain levels. As women have lower androgen levels, they tend to have generally lower pain thresholds in their abdomen.
These findings are reinforced in “an interesting 2007 study in transsexuals looked at the relationship between sex steroids and chronic pain with cross-sex hormone administration. About a third of the male-to-female patients developed chronic pain, including visceral, breast, and musculoskeletal pain as well as headaches, with estrogen and anti-androgen treatment. Conversely, about half of the female-to-male subjects given testosterone reported a significant improvement in chronic pain.”
“Women have lower pain tolerance than men in muscle, skin, and gut, and this is thought to be associated with an estrogen mechanism,” Chang said. But the hormone picture is complicated, because the hormone oxytocin, which is present in labor and breastfeeding, is also linked to pain reduction: “It’s thought that oxytocin is tied to the opioid system and has an inhibitory effect on pain.”
Regardless of your gender or your predominant symptoms, the team at Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health can help! Our providers are well versed in all of the latest treatment options for IBS (and other functional GI conditions) including nutritional interventions, optimizing the mind-connection with gut directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, and utilizing the huge variety of potentially beneficial supplements and medications. One size does not fit all – you need to have an individualized treatment plan.
We are eager to help IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE and have you THINK LESS ABOUT YOUR GUT. Call 224.407.4400 or visitcompgihealth.com to schedule a consultation.