Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects as many as 1 in 5 people. The disease is commonly referred to as a spastic colon and is associated with abdominal pain and uncontrollable bowel movements. There is no specific test to diagnose the disease, although your doctor may order a colonoscopy to provide more information. IBS is usually diagnosed through the reporting of specific symptoms and the ruling out of other disorders. Although the disease is more common in women, it affects millions of men across the world. A study at the UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders has found that there may be differences in symptoms and effectiveness of treatment for IBS between men and women.
Physiology
The male stomach may be less sensitive than the female's. This is thought to be related to the different hormonal levels of women and men.
Different Symptoms
Symptoms such as bloating, incomplete evacuation and mucus in the stool are less commonly reported in men. The differences in reports of other symptoms may be related to insufficient data for men with IBS.
Universal Symptoms
Most symptoms of IBS are reported in both men and women at comparable rates. These symptoms may include uncontrollable bowel movements, abdominal pain, constipation and gas.
Treatment
As noted by the UNC Center study, some pain medication may be less effective in providing relief for men. It is also suspected that men are less likely to consult a physician for treatment of IBS.
Outlook
It is important to note that there is not as much data about IBS concerning males as there is for females. This may be a reason for conflicting data in symptoms in men and women.
Tags: abdominal pain, bowel movements, that there, uncontrollable bowel, uncontrollable bowel movements