IBS & Menopause

During menopause your body will experience many changes. It becomes easy to attribute every malaise to this change whether warranted or not. In other words, menopause will not make everything in your life worse. If fact, some conditions will improve. Various reports from the Everyday Health and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Relief Treatments websites suggest that people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) seem to get some relief from this condition during menopause.

• Feel Good During Menopause

Identification

• Just what is IBS? Otherwise known as spastic colon, people with IBS have spasms in the colon, which affect bowel movements. You alternate between constipation and diarrhea, and you experience abdominal cramping, gassiness and bloating. According to the Menopause Rx website, IBS is not a life-threatening condition, there is no specific cause for IBS, and stress seems to worsen the condition.

Considerations

• Because doctors have been unable to find a cause for IBS, stress and diet are the most agreed-upon consensus, according to Menopause Rx. Under stress, the colon muscle will spasm, leading to IBS. Certain foods may trigger these spasms as well, leading to blockage of the colon, resulting in constipation. Milk products, chocolate and large amounts of alcohol should be avoided if you have constipation related to your IBS. Also according to Menopause Rx, women show more signs of IBS during menstrual periods, suggesting a hormonal link.

Speculation

• Because there is a relation between the onset of the menstrual cycle and IBS, more women than men have IBS. So what effect does menopause have on this condition? For most IBS sufferers, IBS symptoms subside with the hormonal changes associated with menopause, according to the Irritable Bowel Symptom Relief website. While women may notice a sudden improvement when menopause begins, others notice a more gradual improvement. It is important to keep in mind, according to the IBS Relief website, that because hormones fluctuate drastically during menopause, your IBS may become worse at certain times, but will subside at some point.

Features

• Fifteen percent of the population of the U.S. suffers from IBS and of that, 70 percent to 75 percent of sufferers are women. While there is no real cure for this condition, certain lifestyle changes can help.

Prevention/Solution

• Changing your diet can have an effect on a bout of IBS. Because fat is a stimulus for the contraction of the colon muscles, certain foods with a high-fat content should be avoided. All types of meats, poultry skin, whole milk, cream, cheese, butter, vegetable oil, margarine, shortening, avocados and whipped topping are high in fat and could trigger an IBS episode. It's a good idea to keep a journal so that you will be aware of the foods that trigger IBS in you. High-fiber diets help too. Whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables and beans are good sources of fiber. In addition, your doctor may prescribe certain medications such as fiber supplements, laxatives or tranquilizers.