Symptoms of IBS may vary between women and men.
The prevalence of IBS between the 2 sexes does vary, with 1 study indicating IBS effects 14% of women vs 8.9% of men. This may lead some to believe that this difference is influenced by the fact that women are more likely to seek help for this, however, this may not be the full story.
There are gender differences in symptoms also. Women appear to report increased levels of bloating and constipation, while men report increased diarrhoea symptoms. This may be related to the role sex hormones play in the digestive tract.
Women with IBS also tend to report lower QoL (quality of life), more fatigue, depressed mood, less positive well-being and self-control, and higher levels of anxiety than men with IBS.