IBS Awareness Month

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month falls in April each year.

IBS is one of the most common digestive conditions and is defined by belly pain along with a change in bowel habits.

At Guts UK charity, we provide accredited IBS information, raise vital awareness for IBS and much more.

Read on to discover how you can spot the signs and empower people to seek help sooner. Together, we’re getting to grips with guts.

What is IBS?

Guts UK's brand character illustration of the brain. The brain has been characterised with two small black eyes and a smile, and has two pale, pink legs, wearing black boots.

IBS is thought to be caused by the gut and brain over-communicating. In other words, talking to one another too much.

 

 

What are the symptoms of IBS?

Guts UK branded character illustration of an elderly man sat down next to a toilet. He has his left arm bent, using the toilet for support, extending his hand to his forehead. His right hand is touching his stomach, on top of a blue jumper he is wearing. He has grey hair at the sides and back of his head and a grey moustache, and also wears dark navy trousers and pink and purple striped socks. He looks pained, as if he is about to vomit.

The most common symptoms of IBS include:

  • Belly (abdominal) cramps. They can be uncomfortable or painful.
  • Abnormal bowel habits. You could have diarrhoea, constipation, or both.
  • Wind, bloating and distension (a widening of the girth of the belly).
  • Mucus present in poo.

Other symptoms can include feeling tired and sick, backache, and bladder issues.

About a third of people have IBS with constipation (IBS-C). Another third of people have IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D), and others don’t fall into a specific pattern (IBS-M). IBS-M is used for people with both constipation and diarrhoea symptoms.

 

Who does IBS affect?

Rates of people living with IBS vary between countries. Twice as many women as men are diagnosed with IBS, and it can be diagnosed at any stage of life. The most common age of diagnosis is between 20 and 40 years old.

How common is IBS?

IBS is one of the most common reasons for people to visit their GP and affects four to ten in 100 people worldwide.

Does IBS affect women or men more?

Women are slightly more affected than men by IBS.

What treatment is available for IBS?

Guts UK's gut brand character of the gut (oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon) is sat down, facing left and looks sad.

Treatments are very individual, as they can vary depending on the symptoms. They can include medications, diet and lifestyle factors. It’s important to work alongside your doctor on what treatments you’d like to try. It’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for the next. Learn as much as you can about what there is out there to try when it comes to IBS treatment.

 

Why is it important to raise awareness of IBS?

For too long, our guts have been misunderstood and undervalued. Although IBS is one of the most common digestive conditions, it can frequently be dismissed as “just an upset tummy” or a minor inconvenience. Our research shows that 58% of people feel embarrassed to talk about their digestive symptoms, leading over half of those affected to delay seeking medical advice for at least six months. By making much-needed noise for our guts, we can challenge the taboos surrounding them and empower people to seek help sooner, free from stigma or shame.

Every conversation we start and every story we share helps ensure that no one has to navigate the unpredictability of IBS alone.

 

For more information or how to get involved visit Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month - Guts UK