Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract account for about 10% of the total burden of disease in the United States. They account for more than 50 million office visits annually and nearly 10 million hospital admissions. Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS alone can trigger a whopping 3.5 million visits to the doctor’s office each year. However, endometriosis with IBS is a different case and is classified under different conditions.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a very common gastrointestinal problem. About one in six healthy people report classic IBS symptoms. It occurs more commonly in women than in men, and the cause is still unknown.

Although no anatomical or biochemical abnormalities have been found to explain the symptoms, several factors are associated with the syndrome: hereditary, psychological, hormonal, stress or conditions such as depression and anxiety, a high-fat diet and stimulating or irritating foods, alcohol consumption, and a tuxedo. .

The most common symptoms of IBS include mucus in the stool, gas and bloating, diarrhea, constipation, a strong urge to have a bowel movement, and severe abdominal cramping and pain, usually after a recent bowel movement.

endometriosis

Endometriosis is a biological problem rather than a disease. The cause of this disorder is the development of extra endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus and adheres to other organs and can travel to the intestines. These tissues resemble those of the endometrium, the thin lining that grows in the uterus and is normally shed during the menstrual period.

As endometriosis develops, pain becomes the number one identifiable symptom. Other common symptoms of this disorder are fatigue, infertility, lower back pain, constipation, and diarrhea.
Read on to learn more about IBS and endometriosis, and sign up for the free newsletter below to discover natural endometriosis treatments that ease pain and discomfort.

Endometriosis and IBS

Many women with endometriosis initially mistakenly believe they have IBS and even doctors fall into this trap as the only way to diagnose endometriosis is to see the tissues.
The two conditions present with similar symptoms and can be an obvious but misdiagnosis.

Intestinal endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue migrates into the intestine. This then swells, sheds, and bleeds in accordance with your menstrual cycle.

To diagnose if you have intestinal endometriosis, it’s a good idea to track your symptoms in line with your menstrual cycle. For some women, IBS symptoms occur only during their periods, others experience symptoms all the time, but experience an increase in severity during menstruation.

A big clue that endometriosis has spread to the intestines is the appearance of blood in the stool during menstruation. It is important to see a doctor quickly if you detect this so that investigation can determine the cause of the bleeding.

It has been suggested that the incidence of intestinal endometriosis is as high as 34%, with conservative estimates putting the number at approximately 5-10%.

Once the diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis has been confirmed, medications may be given, natural remedies tried, or laparoscopic surgery may be used to remove stubborn implants and stop the endometriosis with IBS symptoms.