• Most women suspect that hormone fluctuations affect their IBS. Research shows this is true.
  
  
• Women have a higher prevalence of IBS than men.
  
  
• Women with IBS also have more severe symptoms and need more medications than men.
  
  
• Why? Might be sex-related differences in brain responses to visceral (body) and psychological (mind) stressors, as well as hormonal influences.
  
  
• Small-bowel transit, gastric emptying, and colonic transit times are all significantly different for women (even women without IBS) than for men.
  
  
• Estrogen receptors in the stomach and small intestine react to changing levels of hormones.
  
  
• Periods? Bad News for IBS. Many women with IBS find that menstruation worsens IBS pain and bloating, and increases diarrhea as well.
  
  
• High progesterone levels that trigger menstrual cramps can also cause bowel spasms. Why? Both the uterus and the bowel are smooth muscle tissue.
  
  
• This is a really unfair experience for many women, who have to endure painful IBS cramps on top of painful menstrual cramps.
  
  
• What helps?
  
  
• Regular exercise, especially yoga.
  
  
• Therapeutic heat and direct heat on the lower abdomen.
  
  
• Peppermint, which is a smooth muscle relaxant and pain killer, as both enteric coated peppermint oil capsules and medicinal strength peppermint tea.
  
  
• Fennel has been proclaimed an effective herbal drug for menstrual pain.
  
  
• Fennel is already known for its carminative (gas and bloating relief) benefits for IBS.
  
  
• This makes fennel tea a double whammy for menstrual cramps and IBS.
  
  
• Birth control pills and hormone-releasing IUDs can lessen cramps and associated IBS flares for some women. Ask both your GI doc and your ob/gyn about options.
  
  
• See more research on hormones and IBS.
  
  

Heather Van Vorous & Heather's Tummy Care Over 10 Years of IBS Business!

Have other IBS questions? Please call us toll free 866-640-4942. Outside the continental US? Call direct 206-264-8069. Get more IBS help at HelpForIBS.com! See all the IBS Quick Tips! Thank you for your continued support!

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