Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

En Español (Spanish Version)

Symptoms come and go. They are also not the same from one person to the next.

Symptoms may be worse after eating. Some are:

Belly cramps
Diarrhea
Constipation
Bloating
Pain that gets better by moving your bowels
Feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowels
Straining to move your bowels
An urgent need to move your bowels
Mucus in the stool
Nausea
Back pain

REFERENCES:

Ford AC, Lacy BE, Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(26):2566-2578.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113627/Irritable-bowel-syndrome-IBS. Updated September 10, 2018. Accessed August 26, 2019.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs. Updated April 2019. Accessed August 26, 2019.

• Previous • Next

Last reviewed August 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD
Last Updated: 8/27/2019

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.