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. 2012:2012:534204.
doi: 10.1155/2012/534204. Epub 2012 Mar 14.

Natural history of irritable bowel syndrome in women and dysmenorrhea: a 10-year follow-up study

Linda Bjork Olafsdottir  1 , Hallgrimur Gudjonsson, Heidur Hrund Jonsdottir, Einar Björnsson, Bjarni Thjodleifsson
Affiliations

Natural history of irritable bowel syndrome in women and dysmenorrhea: a 10-year follow-up study

Linda Bjork Olafsdottir et al. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2012.

Abstract

Background. Studies have shown that women are more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and more women seek healthcare because of IBS than men. Aim. We wanted to examine the natural history of IBS and dysmenorrhea in women over a 10-year period and to assess the change in IBS after menopause. Method. A population-based postal study. A questionnaire was mailed to the same age- and gender-stratified random sample of the Icelandic population aged 18-75 in 1996 and again in 2006. Results. 77% premenopausal women had dysmenorrhea in the year 1996 and 74% in 2006. 42% of women with dysmenorrhea had IBS according to Manning criteria in the year 2006 and 49% in 1996. 26% of women with dysmenorrhea had IBS according to Rome III 2006 and 11% in the year 1996. In 2006 30% women had severe or very severe dysmenorrhea pain severity. More women (27%) reported severe abdominal pain after menopause than before menopause 11%. Women without dysmenorrhea were twice more likely to remain asymptomatic than the women with dysmenorrhea. Women with dysmenorrhea were more likely to have stable symptoms and were twice more likely to have increased symptoms. Conclusion. Women with IBS are more likely to experience dysmenorrhea than women without IBS which seems to be a part of the symptomatology in most women with IBS. IBS symptom severity seems to increase after menopause.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Transitions among symptom subgroups between the initial and final surveys. Women with dysmenorrhea, women without dysmenorrhea.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow of study participants.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of dysmenorrhea severity (1996, n = 254, 2006, n = 152).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Functional gastrointestinal disorders and dysmenorrhea severity (2006, n = 152).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Abdominal pain in women with dysmenorrhea 1996 and after menopause 2006.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Six-group transition model, change from initial to the final survey. Women with dysmenorrhea (n = 130) in the inner circle and women without dysmenorrhea (n = 163) in the outer circle.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Birth cohort effect on the prevalence (%) in 10 years.
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