Irritable bowel syndrome in women of reproductive and menopausal age

In this article, we review the international literature and our findings irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. The study objective was to compare extraintestinal associated symptoms (EAS) at IBS in the women and men groups; to investigate their frequency and characteristics depending on the age, type of IBS and changes in psychological and vegetative status. 245 patients with IBS were enrolled in the study: 183 women and 62 men, aged 19–81 (mean 45.3±6.9), 88 with IBS diarrhea-type (IBS-D), 48 with IBS constipation-type (IBS-C) and 109 with IBS mixed-type (IBS-M). The women with IBS were divided into two groups: under and over 45 (n=90 and n=93, respectively). We diagnosed IBS using Rome III criteria (2006). The EAS analysis of was done with SOMS-2 questionnaire (Screening for Somatoform Disorders 2; Rief W. and Hiller W., 2008). In IBS patients, we evaluated depression using the BDI scale (Beck Depression Inventory; Beck A.T., 1996) and anxiety using the STAI (State-Trate Anxiety Inventory; Spilberger Ch.D.). IBS is more frequent in women both in the reproductive and menopausal period than in men of the same age groups (women/men ratio is 3:1). In the women group, the EAS rate was significantly higher than in the men group, and increased with age (p <0,05). High prevalence of pain syndromes was in both women groups: back pain up to 60–70%, pain in the arms and legs and joint pain up to 40–60%; and increased increased with age (p <0,05). On the contrary, the prevalence of such symptoms as dispareunia, indifference to sex, irregular periods decreased with age. The prevalence of depression, the level of actual and personal anxiety increased in the group of women over 45 compared to the younger group (p <0,05). IBS-C type was diagnosed only in the women group, regardless of the age, and EAS increased with age (p <0,05). EAS are the integral part of IBS. We revealed their prevalence in the women group compared to the men group. The frequency of EAS increased significantly in the elder women group compared to the men. The similar tendency was observed in psychological and vegetative status changes, in particular in depression and anxiety.

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