Can IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) be mistaken for gynaecological problems?

Title:

Gynaecological consultation in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (1989-1986).

Source:

Gut. Vol 30(7) (pp96-998), 1989.

Abstract:

A 12 month follow up study to assess the impact of symptoms suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome in women presenting to gynaecology clinics with pelvic pain is reported. Of 71 women 37 (52%) had symptoms suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome at presentation. A firm gynaecological diagnosis was reached in only three (8%) women positive for irritable bowel syndrome compared with 15 (44%) without (p = 0.002). After 12 months 24 (65%) women with irritable bowel syndrome were still symptomatic compared with 11 (32%) without (p = 0.01). This study shows that women with irritable bowel syndrome frequently attend gynaecological clinics but rarely have gynaecological pathology and the prognosis is poor in terms of resolution of their pain.

Please click on the required question.

•  Pelvic Pain. Is this a common problem?
•  What are the common causes of pelvic pain in women?
•  What are the more common gynaecological causes of pelvic pain?
•  What are the more common non-gynaecological causes of pelvic pain?
•  What are primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea - painful periods?
•  What is retrograde menstruation?
•  How can dysmenorrhoea - painful periods be treated?
•  What are ovarian cysts?
•  How do ovarian cysts cause pain?
•  How are ovarian cysts diagnosed?
•  How are ovarian cysts treated?
•  I think I may be pregnant and I have some pelvic pain. What should I do?
•  What is pelvic inflammatory disease and how can it be treated?
• Mittelschmertz

FIBROIDS

• 14 What are fibroids?
• 15 I have fibroids. What difficulties might they cause for me?
• 16 How are fibroids diagnosed?
• 17 How could my fibroids be treated?

  ENDOMETRIOSIS

• 18 What is endometriosis?
• 19 How prevalent is endometriosis?
• 20 What causes endometriosis?
• 21 How can my endometriosis be treated?
• 22 How can my doctor determine the cause of my pelvic pain?
• 23 What investigations might be recommended by my gynaecologist to investigate my pelvic pain?
• 24 What is laparoscopy?
• 25 What are pelvic adhesions?
• 26 I have chronic pelvic pain. Could this be related to adhesions?
• 27  What is uterine retroversion (retroverted uterus)
• 28  Does a retroverted uterus (backward tilted uterus) cause symptoms?
• 29 How is a retroverted uterus - backward tilted uterus - treated?
• 30 What is pelvic congestion?
• 31 What causes pain associated with sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
• 32 How can painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) be treated?
• 33 What is a pelvic mass?

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME - IBS

• 34 What is irritable bowel syndrome?
• 35 How can we find out if I have irritable bowel syndrome?
• 36 Is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) a common condition?
• 37 What causes IBS?
• 38 What is the pain associated with IBS like?
• 39 Can IBS be mistaken for gynaecological problems?
• 40 How can my IBS be treated?
• 41 What other treatments are available for IBS?
• 42 What can be done to reduce the amount of bowel gas(flatus)
• 43 What is constipation?
• 44 What causes constipation?
• 45  How can constipation be treated?
• 46 How could we summarise the treatments that are available for my pelvic pain?
• 47 Where can I obtain more information?
• 48 Pelvic Pain Support Groups.
• 49 Endometriosis Support Groups.
• 50 IBS Support Groups.

   

  
  

Thank you for choosing to visit us.

This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.