| Abstract: |
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort, associated with a change in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or a combination of both). This article considers the role of hormonal influences on the gastrointestinal tract in general and on IBS. The authors note that IBS is more often found in women than men. Often symptoms of IBS appear to be related to hormone status (e.g., menstruating, pregnant, menopausal, taking oral contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapy). In some women, symptoms come and go in tandem with their menstrual cycle. The authors describe the growing body of evidence that supports a role for sex hormones in the pathophysiology and symptom presentation of IBS. The authors call for additional research on IBS that includes categorization and selection of patients based on sex and hormone status to help determine whether sex or hormone status has an impact on the effectiveness of standard management approaches for IBS. 1 figure. 9 references. |