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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor a while, the \u201chot girls have stomach problems\u201d trend on social media has been a way for women to destigmatise irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).<\/p>\n
By sharing content about bloating, farting, diarrhoea and constipation, users normalise talking about some of the condition\u2019s unpleasant symptoms. But why does<\/em> IBS affect women more than men?<\/p>\nStudies show women are twice as likely as men to have this condition, and symptoms are most common among those aged 18 to 39.<\/p>\n
The reasons are complex, but sex hormones seem to play an important role. Here\u2019s what we know.<\/p>\n
What is irritable bowel syndrome?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n IBS is more than just stomach pain \u2013 it\u2019s a complex disorder affecting messages sent by the nerve network known as the gut-brain axis.<\/p>\n
IBS is considered a syndrome because it is characterised by a collection of symptoms, rather than a structural abnormality in the gut or a particular disease.<\/p>\n
People with this condition experience unpredictable and uncomfortable bowel motions such as diarrhoea and constipation. Other symptoms can include pelvic pain, headaches and fatigue and significantly affect quality of life.<\/p>\n
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Symptoms can include pelvic pain, headaches and fatigue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThere is also significant overlap between IBS and depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n
The definitive reason people develop IBS remains unclear. But we do know that messaging between the brain and gut is thrown off track.<\/p>\n
In both men and women, everyday factors \u2013 including stress, exercise, diet, socialising and thought patterns, such as the anxiety someone may develop about symptoms \u2013 can speed up or slow down the messages sent via the gut-brain axis.<\/p>\n
The result is heightened reactivity: the gut becomes very sensitive to food, stress and anxiety, leading to unpredictable bowel motions.<\/p>\n
The role of hormones<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Differences in men’s and women\u2019s IBS symptoms \u2013 and how bad they are \u2013 may be due to differences in hormones.<\/p>\n
Men have more testosterone than women, and this hormone is thought to help protect against developing IBS.<\/p>\n
But for women, fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone \u2013 which they have more of \u2013 can worsen symptoms.<\/p>\n
These hormones influence how quickly food moves through the gut, speeding up or slowing down the number of times the gut contracts, leading to pain and other symptoms like constipation and diarrhoea.<\/p>\n\nAbout the author<\/h2>\nLauren Manning is a Lecturer in Dietetics and Human Nutrition at La Trobe University.<\/p>\n
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Women are more likely to have worse symptoms during their reproductive years. Symptoms are also often worse during a woman\u2019s period, which is when oestrogen and progesterone decrease.<\/p>\n
There is also emerging evidence about the overlap between IBS and conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.<\/p>\n
Recent studies suggest people with endometriosis are three times more likely to have IBS, while those with polycystic ovary syndrome are twice as likely to have it.<\/p>\n
These conditions seem to be connected by hormone fluctuations and pain, although we don\u2019t know what causes what. Factors such as mild inflammation from an overactive immune system, a weak gut lining, unbalanced gut bacteria and sensitive nerves in the gut may explain why these conditions happen together.<\/p>\n
Women are also more likely to seek support for IBS than men, which may explain why we have better reporting on their diagnosis and the overlap of other conditions that affect women.<\/p>\n
Managing IBS<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n There is no cure for IBS. But the syndrome can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication.<\/p>\n
Evidence suggests that reducing gut irritants in your diet can reduce discomfort. These include caffeine, spicy food, alcohol, fizzy drinks and high-fat food.<\/p>\n
For some people with ongoing symptoms, a dietitian may prescribe restricting and then reintroducing certain food groups known as fermentable carbohydrates, or FODMAPs.<\/p>\n
FODMAPs are found in common foods such as dairy products (lactose), grain and cereals (fructans) and certain fruits such as apples, watermelon and stone fruit (polyols).<\/p>\n
The purpose of this diet is to first relieve symptoms and then systematically identify irritants, so that if they\u2019re reintroduced, it\u2019s at a level that the gut can tolerate.<\/p>\n\nMain symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)<\/h2>\nNHS<\/h3>\nThe main symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) are:<\/p>\n
\nstomach pain or cramps \u2013 usually worse after eating and better after doing a poo <\/li>\n bloating \u2013 your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen <\/li>\n diarrhoea \u2013 you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly <\/li>\n constipation \u2013 you may strain when pooing and feel like you cannot empty your bowels fully <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor some people, cognitive behavioural therapy also helps. This talk therapy \u2013 which focuses on reframing unhelpful thinking and behaviour \u2013 is used to get messages between the gut-brain axis back on track. For example, by reducing emotional stress (the \u201cfight or flight\u201d response), improving how your brain interprets pain, and addressing negative thoughts about symptoms, such as shame and anxiety.<\/p>\n
Others may benefit from hypnotherapy, which helps reduce gut sensitivity and promotes deep relaxation. This teaches the body to respond more calmly to stress, which helps to regulate the gut-brain messaging system.<\/p>\n
Doctors can also recommend medications that act on receptors in the gut and regulate the speed of digestion, which can reduce diarrhoea and constipation.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, low-dose antidepressants (prescribed at a much lower dose than what would be used to treat clinical depression) can help to reduce sensitivity to pain in the gut.<\/p>\n
So, can social media help?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n People living with IBS often feel their condition isn\u2019t taken seriously.<\/p>\n
Research shows they face dismissive attitudes \u2013 including from doctors \u2013 which suggest the symptoms are just in their head, and are more likely to experience shame about their condition.<\/p>\n
For some women, sharing experiences online can help them shed the shame and find out more about IBS. But social media communities, and influencers trying to sell products, can also encourage women to try expensive strategies that don\u2019t have evidence to back them.<\/p>\n
Given the complexity of IBS, individual, tailored care is key.<\/p>\n
Your symptoms are not just a \u201cvibe\u201d. If you\u2019re concerned, you should speak to a trained health-care professional, such as a GP, psychologist or dietitian, who can help you find the right treatment for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more For a while, the \u201chot girls have stomach problems\u201d trend on social media has been a way for women to destigmatise irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). By sharing content about bloating, farting, diarrhoea and constipation, users normalise talking about some of the condition\u2019s unpleasant symptoms. But why does IBS affect women more than men? Studies show women are twice as likely as men to have this condition, and symptoms are most common among those aged 18 to 39. The reasons are complex, but sex hormones seem to play an important role. Here\u2019s what we know. What is irritable bowel syndrome? IBS is more than just stomach pain \u2013 it\u2019s a complex disorder affecting messages sent by the nerve network known as the gut-brain axis. IBS is considered a syndrome because it is characterised by a collection of symptoms, rather than a structural abnormality in the gut or a particular disease. People with this condition experience unpredictable and uncomfortable bowel motions such as diarrhoea and constipation. Other symptoms can includ…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7650"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7650"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7650\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}