Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Address for correspondence : Michael Camilleri, M. The pathophysiology and mechanisms of irritable bowel syndrome IBS involve both central and peripheral mechanisms that result in altered perception, as well as changes in bowel functions.
These dysfunctions are associated with motor, sensory, immune, barrier, and intraluminal perturbations, including the microbiota, and their products and endogenous molecules with bioactive properties. There is evidence that these mechanisms are altered in both females and males. However, there is also increasing evidence that sex is a biological variable that impacts a number of aspects of the mechanisms, epidemiology, and manifestations of IBS.
The objective of this article is to review the evidence of the differences among genders of the following factors in IBS: the brain-gut axis and sex hormones, epidemiology, diagnostic criteria and prognosis, pain perception, colonic transit, abdominal distension, overlap with urogynecological conditions, psychological issues, anorexia, fibromyalgia, serotonin, and responsiveness to treatment of IBS.
It is important to consider the variations attributable to sex in order to enhance the management of patients with IBS and the research of mechanisms involved in IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome IBS is generally regarded as a disorder of the brain-gut axis. The pathophysiology and mechanisms of IBS involve both central and peripheral mechanisms that result in altered perception, as well as changes in bowel functions associated with motor, sensory, immune, barrier, and intraluminal perturbations, including the microbiota, and their products and endogenous molecules with bioactive properties.
Studies of the global prevalence of IBS generally show a higher prevalence in females than males, although there are cultural differences noted in certain countries where male patients tend to present for care more frequently than females, 1 , 2 as occurs in countries such as India and Sri Lanka.
