{"id":22183,"date":"2024-12-20T07:19:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T06:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=22183"},"modified":"2024-12-20T07:19:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T06:19:52","slug":"common-womens-digestive-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Women&#8217;s Digestive Issues &#038; Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10429743\/#:~:text=Many%20functional%20gastrointestinal%20disorders%20and,in%20women%20than%20in%20men.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2-6 times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and twice as likely to have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to men. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastrointestinal issues (GI) are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2015\/03\/150330134409.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">much more common<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in women due to a multitude of differences in physical makeup, from slower gastric emptying and different enzyme systems to hormone-related symptoms that occur during menstruation and menopause. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s a breakdown of common digestive issues in women, what causes them, and how to handle it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why GI Issues Are More Common in Women<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theibsnetwork.org\/news\/articles\/do-women-have-more-stomach-problems-than-men-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more likely<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to experience GI issues such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constipation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammatory Bowel Disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pelvic floor dysfunction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gallstones<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Females have more organs in the lower part of the abdomen for reproduction that are next to the colon and small intestine, which causes their digestive systems to operate slightly differently than men. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, certain surgeries like cesarean sections, hysterectomies, and ovarian surgeries can also result in GI issues, often due to pelvic floor dysfunction that is common in women who have been pregnant and given vaginal birth. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pelvic floor dysfunction may lead to symptoms like lower abdominal pain, lack of bowel control, constipation, prolapse, and problems with the elimination of stool.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Menstrual Cycles and Menopause Affect Your Stomach<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hormonal fluctuations that women undergo have a direct impact on gastrointestinal processes. For example, periods often come with increased visceral (organ) sensitivity, making your stomach more sensitive to pain. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, during your period, your body secretes a compound called prostaglandin. Prostaglandins force the uterus to contract in order to help shed the lining. However, they also cause nearby organs to contract, resulting in symptoms like diarrhea and cramping. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also increased levels of progesterone during other phases of the cycle that relaxes your muscles and may result in constipation and bloating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common GI Issues And Treatment Options<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic Constipation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic constipation is common in women because female large intestines empty at a slower rate than men (though the difference dwindles with age). Eating a high fiber diet, staying adequately hydrated, and exercising regularly can help reduce constipation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also take over-the-counter medications like laxatives or stool softeners to alleviate symptoms. If these methods don\u2019t seem to be working, consult with your doctor for additional testing or medications.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBS is a chronic condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. Patients with IBS are hyper-sensitive to irritants that do not normally bother other people. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research on IBS shows that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theibsnetwork.org\/news\/articles\/do-women-have-more-stomach-problems-than-men-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emotional stress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can worsen IBS, meaning that part of controlling IBS is learning how to regulate your stress and emotional state. That said, IBS isn\u2019t a \u201cfunctional\u201d problem, which is good news; there\u2019s nothing \u201cwrong\u201d with the stomach and there isn\u2019t any damage to the intestinal lining. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There isn\u2019t any specific treatment for IBS other than lifestyle changes, a low FODMAP diet, and coping strategies for life stressors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBD is twice as frequently found in women than men. Both Crohn\u2019s and Ulcerative Colitis fall under the IBD umbrella, and women may experience a less serious course of Cohn\u2019s, particularly if they\u2019ve birthed several children. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout pregnancy may improve the disease or make it worse at random. Symptoms include weight loss, blood in the stool, anemia, and diarrhea. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doctors typically diagnose this disease after a colonoscopy and then review biopsy specimens. Treatment varies, but generally takes the form of long-term medications, many of which you can take during pregnancy to alleviate symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colon Cancer<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colon cancer is the third most prevalent cancer for women in the U.S. Women should follow current guidelines and start being screened at age 50. Women with a family history of the disease should consult with their doctors and potentially be screened at more frequent intervals and at an earlier age. Patients need to discuss screening options with their doctor to establish optimal screening options.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common Stomach Problems In Women<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastroparesis<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One key reason why women tend to experience more bloating and nausea than men is that their stomachs empty slower. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific conditions like infections, diabetes, prior stomach surgeries, and low thyroid levels can damage nerves responsible for emptying the stomach and result in a condition known as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/digestive-diseases\/gastroparesis#:~:text=Gastroparesis%2C%20also%20called%20delayed%20gastric,in%20the%20stomach%20or%20intestines.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gastroparesis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some common symptoms of gastroparesis are abdominal bloating, fullness, and weight loss. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor may test you for the diagnosis, and prescribe eating more frequent, smaller meals with a lower fat content to aid digestion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastritis<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/gastritis\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20355807#:~:text=Gastritis%20is%20a%20general%20term,use%20of%20certain%20pain%20relievers.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastritis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> refers to the inflammation of the stomach, which may be caused by frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin. Women are more likely to use these medications than men for various reasons (such as period pain) and over time, these medications may irritate the stomach lining and result in ulcers. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luckily, there are new types of medications with similar effects as NSAIDs, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/drugs\/23119-cox-2-inhibitors#:~:text=COX%2D2%20inhibitors%20are%20a,inhibitor%20available%20in%20the%20U.S.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COX-2 inhibitors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which may be less harsh on the GI tract (though may be linked to a higher rate in heart attacks). If you take NSAIDs frequently, you should talk to your doctor about protecting your stomach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women are 2-6 times more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and twice as likely to have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to men. Gastrointestinal issues (GI) are much&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":21994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[224],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.12 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Common Women&#039;s Digestive Issues &amp; Treatments<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore common women&#039;s digestive issues, their causes, and effective treatments. Learn solutions to improve gut health and wellbeing.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Clara Wang\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Clara Wang\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bbe3f8278393bf7331406726c01dc98c\"},\"headline\":\"Common Women&#8217;s Digestive Issues &#038; Treatments\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-20T06:19:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-20T06:19:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/\"},\"wordCount\":861,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"women's health\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Women's Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/common-womens-digestive-issues\/\",\"name\":\"Common Women's Digestive Issues & Treatments\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-20T06:19:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-20T06:19:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"Explore common women's digestive issues, their causes, and effective treatments. 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