Order a Menopause Test Kit Today, Test for Menopause Before Your Next Doctors Visit

NOTICE: This forum is now archived and in place for reference only.
All NEW postings are now located and only accepted at the CPTwomen members Forum.
Click Here to obtain a Login Name and Password to access the Members Posting Forum.

Already a member? Click Here to Login to the Members Site

Hormones linked to IBS...

I got this off gratefulmed......

TITLE: Bowel dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

AUTHORS:Triadafilopoulos G; Finlayson M; Grellet C

AUTHOR AFFILIATION:
Gastroenterology Section, Palo Alto VA Health Care System (111-GI), CA 94304, USA. vagt@leland.stanford.edu

SOURCE: Women Health 1998;27(4):55-66

CITATION IDS: PMID: 9796084 UI: 99012176

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND/AIMS: The perimenopausal and postmenopausal states are frequently accompanied by a variety of
symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Although vasomotor, vaginal and genitourinary symptoms prevail, gastrointestinal
complaints such as abdominal bloating may occur. In this study, we investigated the nature and prevalence of
gastrointestinal and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-type complaints in women going through their climacteric and
postmenopausal periods.

PATIENTS/METHODS: 228 women (170 postmenopausal and 58 premenopausal) who
presented for evaluation at a primary care practice limited to women's health were evaluated prospectively by a
previously validated gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaire designed to evaluate symptoms suggestive of IBS. At the
time of their participation in the study, none of these women was presenting for evaluation of abdominal or genitourinary
symptoms.

RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent of postmenopausal women reported altered bowel function, in contrast to
14% of premenopausal ones (p < 0.001). Despite this, the two groups did not differ in regards to the occurrence of
abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, suggestive of IBS. The prevalence of IBS-type complaints peaked to 36%
during the climacteric period (40-49 years). Laxative usage (9.4% prevalence), gaseousness/excessive flatulence (48%
prevalence) and heart-burn/acid regurgitation (34% prevalence) were also more common among postmenopausal women.
Estrogen use did not affect gastrointestinal symptoms in any of the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the possible
role of aging on symptom perception-regardless of hormonal status-cannot be ruled out, these results suggest that peri-
and postmenopausal women have a high prevalence of altered bowel function and IBS-like gastrointestinal complaints
that should be carefully assessed. If the diagnosis of IBS is confirmed, appropriate treatment may improve patients'
symptoms, although this approach requires further study.

Posted on May 7, 1999, 10:58 PM

Respond to this message

Goto Forum HomeResponses

Untitled. Carrie on May 8, 1999

Why didn't they look at all the hormones?!. on May 8, 1999

Treat the hormone imbalance.... on May 8, 1999

Take the Tubal Ligation I.Q. Test Are you outraged? Feel as though you and other women were not (are not) being informed? Think that a class action lawsuit should be filed on behalf of post tubal women because information was and still is being withheld by the ACOG! The CPTwomen invites all reading this forum to join the CPTwomen and communicate with us at the members' forum. All posting here and conversation here has been moved to the members' forum.

CPTwomen members have testified in front of the IL and CA Court, the IL Gov. Task Force, the Sunset Review Committee, (Senator Liz Figueroa), NOW, and more. What occurred has been made a matter of public record. The CPTwomen are making public the issues which millions of other women have faced in silence. Issues such as women are not informed at the time of their tubal ligation that there is a risk of hormonal imbalance occurring. For the CPTwomen to continue its mission to move this issue to the forefront of government, we must ask for a small contribution/subscription fee from all those who wish to communicate with us and participate at the Coalition's Bulletin Board

Coalition for Post Tubal Women
Archived Public Forum