Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Birth Control Pills

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known as IBS, is a gastrointestinal disorder. Women are twice as likely to suffer IBS as men. It can be either positively or negatively affected by the use of birth control pills. The exact results depend heavily upon the individual and her personal medical history.

Identification

• IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by diarrhea, constipation, cramping and other forms of discomfort. Although the cause of IBS is a matter of dispute among health care professionals, hormones seem to be a culprit in causing or irritating the condition.

Significance

• The issue of the birth control pill's relation to IBS carries significance because women are twice as likely to develop the condition as men. Additionally, women who have IBS often suffer more severe symptoms than their male counterparts. The presence of estrogen receptors in the stomach and intestinal tract are beleived to be one reason for the prevalence of IBS in women.

Effects

• Some women do experience relief from IBS when taking birth control pills. One reason for this relief may be an interruption of the menstrual cycle, which can causes an increase in IBS flare-ups and discomfort due to fluctuating hormones.

Considerations

• Relief from IBS symptoms while on the birth control pill is not universal. Instead of relief, some women notice their symptoms getting worse with the addition of birth control pills.

Speculation

• Estrogen production is disrupted by birth control pills. Medical researchers speculate that this leads to the change in IBS symptoms.