Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects around 580 million people worldwide. It is a major women’s health issue since 2 out of 3 individuals who report IBS in the community are female.
The latest consensus guidelines (Rome IV) define IBS as: “A gut-brain disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated to changes in frequency or appearance of stools at least 1 day per week for the last 3 months” 1
IBS symptoms include abdominal pain, discomfort , bloating or distension and gut-specific anxiety.
All these features interfere with the daily life of many patients, having a significant detrimental effect in their quality of life.