Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCan It Go Away?Is There a Cure?CausesPain DurationFlare-Up DurationReducing Symptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Can It Go Away?
Is There a Cure?
Causes
Pain Duration
Flare-Up Duration
Reducing Symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)is a highly variable condition that causes symptoms in the digestive system. People may report abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation, and bloating. IBS is a chronic condition that is often lifelong and has periods of flare-ups of symptoms.
The causes of this condition are unclear, but there are thought to be many factors that could work together to lead to IBS symptoms. One form, post-infectious IBS, develops after a gut infection and may get better over time.
This article will discuss how IBS is usually a condition that affects people over their lifetime, how pain and other symptoms affect daily life, and what could causeflare-upsof symptoms.
NickyLloyd / Getty Images
Can IBS Go Away on Its Own?
IBS is generally considered a lifelong condition. However, there’s not a lot of data on how it affects a person over their lifetime. Symptoms do tend to come and go for many people. A time of active symptoms may be called aflare-up.
In the first year or two of being diagnosed, IBS tends to affect people pretty consistently. Flare-ups occur about four times a month. People have symptoms about half of the time, and long flare-ups seem to last about five days.
About a year after being diagnosed, 30% to 45% of people have long periods of time with no IBS symptoms. Ten years later, symptoms of IBS continue to affect between 50% and 70% of those diagnosed.
Is There a Cure for IBS?
IBS is not generally thought of as a condition that is curable. It’s usually thought of as a cluster of symptoms that is managed through various types oftreatments. Treatment is highly individualized.
Some people may go long periods with no symptoms. IBS tends to be diagnosed less often in older people.
9 Signs That Your Stomach Issues May Not Be IBS
What Causes IBS?
It’s not understood what causes IBS. It has many different potential causes. An overlap of factors may start the process that leads to symptoms in any one person.
Some factors are more commonly found in people who are diagnosed with IBS. However, the connection isn’t always understood. It’s a complex condition, and there is not a full understanding of the reasons why and how it affects people.
When You Can’t Get a Diagnosis
Early-Life Stress or Psychological Trauma
There may be a connection between IBS and stress or trauma. Some studies have linked IBS to what are calledadverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Examples of ACEs include abuse, neglect, or exposure to substance abuse. However, these studies, when looked at together, are not rigorous enough to fully explain how and why stress in children is connected to IBS.
IBS has also been linked to trauma frommilitary conflict. This includes both people who are war veterans and those who are civilians but who were exposed to war trauma.
Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders
Changes in Gut Microbes
The balance of the microbes in the digestive system (bacteria, fungi, and viruses), called themicrobiome, is important in the development of gastrointestinal conditions. It’s thought that a disruption in the helpful bacteria or an imbalance within the microbiome could lead to symptoms of IBS.
This imbalance could start early in life. Or it could happen after an event like an infection or treatment with antibiotics. The exact reasons are unclear because people are exposed to so many things that can cause changes in the microbiome.
Dysbiosis: Overview and Treatment
Nervous System Issues
Major stresses on the nervous system, especially from a young age, may be connected to developing symptoms of IBS.
Nervous Stomach
Muscle Contractions in the Intestine
People with IBS may have muscles in the digestive system that are more sensitive. Something in the diet, stress, or other factors could set off contractions on these muscles, leading to symptoms. This is why medications that slow down the muscles in the digestive system are sometimes used to treat IBS.
The Link Between Peristalsis and Motility Disorders
Severe Infection
Infections have been connected to later developing IBS. This might be calledpostinfectious IBS. For some people, IBS starts after havinggastroenteritis(the stomach flu). These contagious infections can cause many symptoms, such as vomiting,diarrhea, andabdominal pain.
What Are the Different Types of IBS?
Repeated or Long-Term Antibiotic Use
Which Antibiotics Cause Diarrhea?
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
SIBOis a condition in which certain types of bacteria in the digestive system grow too numerous. As many as 30% of people with IBS may also have SIBO. SIBO can cause symptoms similar to those of IBS, such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
SIBO usually is treated with the antibiotic rifaximin. This medication is effective in reducing symptoms in as many as 80% of people.
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
How Long Does IBS Pain Last?
Pain is the most common symptom that sends people to a healthcare provider for treatment. How bothersome it is and how severe it feels is highly individualized.
A year after diagnosis, between 30% and 45% of people with IBS will have long periods of no symptoms.
How Long Does an IBS Flare-Up Last?
IBS symptoms can come and go. In the long term, people report that over time, symptoms were:
How to Reduce Symptoms of IBS
Symptoms of an IBS flare-up can be reduced in various ways. Most people will try several different types of strategies before finding the right combination that works for them.
Some of the ways to prevent symptoms are:
Summary
IBS is usually a lifelong condition. Everyone will have a different experience of IBS. Many people will have long periods without symptoms. Others will have symptoms that come and go or are continuous.
Some people will need to make diet and/or lifestyle changes in order to avoid symptoms in the first place or get them under control when they do happen. People with symptoms of IBS may benefit from working with a team of healthcare providers such as a mental health professional, dietitian, and gastroenterologist.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2017Canavan C, West J, Card T.The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome.Clin Epidemiol. 2014;6:71-80. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S40245Simrén M, Tack J.New treatments and therapeutic targets for IBS and other functional bowel disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;15:589-605. doi:10.1038/s41575-018-0034-5Joshee S, Lim L, Wybrecht A, Berriesford R, Riddle M.Meta-analysis and systematic review of the association between adverse childhood events and irritable bowel syndrome.J Investig Med.2022;70:1342-1351. doi:10.1136/jim-2021-002109Peña-Galo EM, Wurzelmann D, Alcedo J, Peña R, Cortes L, Morgan D.Enduring association between irritable bowel syndrome and war trauma during the Nicaragua civil war period: a population-based study.World J Gastroenterol. 2023;29:5953-5961. doi:10.3748/wjg.v29.i45.5953Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801.doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801Annaházi A, Róka R, Rosztóczy A, Wittmann T.Role of antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:6031-6043. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6031Lee YY, Annamalai C, Rao SSC.Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19:56. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0595-4Mamieva Z, Poluektova E, Svistushkin V, et al.Antibiotics, gut microbiota, and irritable bowel syndrome: What are the relations?World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28:1204-1219. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i12.1204Takakura W, Pimentel M.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome - an update.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:664. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00664International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS patients: their illness experience and unmet needs.Chey WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S.Irritable bowel syndrome: a clinical review.JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-958. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.0954International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS in the Real World. 2002.National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.Kinsinger SW.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2017Canavan C, West J, Card T.The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome.Clin Epidemiol. 2014;6:71-80. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S40245Simrén M, Tack J.New treatments and therapeutic targets for IBS and other functional bowel disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;15:589-605. doi:10.1038/s41575-018-0034-5Joshee S, Lim L, Wybrecht A, Berriesford R, Riddle M.Meta-analysis and systematic review of the association between adverse childhood events and irritable bowel syndrome.J Investig Med.2022;70:1342-1351. doi:10.1136/jim-2021-002109Peña-Galo EM, Wurzelmann D, Alcedo J, Peña R, Cortes L, Morgan D.Enduring association between irritable bowel syndrome and war trauma during the Nicaragua civil war period: a population-based study.World J Gastroenterol. 2023;29:5953-5961. doi:10.3748/wjg.v29.i45.5953Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801.doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801Annaházi A, Róka R, Rosztóczy A, Wittmann T.Role of antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:6031-6043. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6031Lee YY, Annamalai C, Rao SSC.Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19:56. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0595-4Mamieva Z, Poluektova E, Svistushkin V, et al.Antibiotics, gut microbiota, and irritable bowel syndrome: What are the relations?World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28:1204-1219. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i12.1204Takakura W, Pimentel M.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome - an update.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:664. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00664International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS patients: their illness experience and unmet needs.Chey WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S.Irritable bowel syndrome: a clinical review.JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-958. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.0954International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS in the Real World. 2002.National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.Kinsinger SW.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2017Canavan C, West J, Card T.The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome.Clin Epidemiol. 2014;6:71-80. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S40245Simrén M, Tack J.New treatments and therapeutic targets for IBS and other functional bowel disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;15:589-605. doi:10.1038/s41575-018-0034-5Joshee S, Lim L, Wybrecht A, Berriesford R, Riddle M.Meta-analysis and systematic review of the association between adverse childhood events and irritable bowel syndrome.J Investig Med.2022;70:1342-1351. doi:10.1136/jim-2021-002109Peña-Galo EM, Wurzelmann D, Alcedo J, Peña R, Cortes L, Morgan D.Enduring association between irritable bowel syndrome and war trauma during the Nicaragua civil war period: a population-based study.World J Gastroenterol. 2023;29:5953-5961. doi:10.3748/wjg.v29.i45.5953Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801.doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801Annaházi A, Róka R, Rosztóczy A, Wittmann T.Role of antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:6031-6043. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6031Lee YY, Annamalai C, Rao SSC.Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19:56. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0595-4Mamieva Z, Poluektova E, Svistushkin V, et al.Antibiotics, gut microbiota, and irritable bowel syndrome: What are the relations?World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28:1204-1219. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i12.1204Takakura W, Pimentel M.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome - an update.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:664. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00664International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS patients: their illness experience and unmet needs.Chey WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S.Irritable bowel syndrome: a clinical review.JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-958. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.0954International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS in the Real World. 2002.National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.Kinsinger SW.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2017
Canavan C, West J, Card T.The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome.Clin Epidemiol. 2014;6:71-80. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S40245
Simrén M, Tack J.New treatments and therapeutic targets for IBS and other functional bowel disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;15:589-605. doi:10.1038/s41575-018-0034-5
Joshee S, Lim L, Wybrecht A, Berriesford R, Riddle M.Meta-analysis and systematic review of the association between adverse childhood events and irritable bowel syndrome.J Investig Med.2022;70:1342-1351. doi:10.1136/jim-2021-002109
Peña-Galo EM, Wurzelmann D, Alcedo J, Peña R, Cortes L, Morgan D.Enduring association between irritable bowel syndrome and war trauma during the Nicaragua civil war period: a population-based study.World J Gastroenterol. 2023;29:5953-5961. doi:10.3748/wjg.v29.i45.5953
Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801.doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801
Annaházi A, Róka R, Rosztóczy A, Wittmann T.Role of antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:6031-6043. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6031
Lee YY, Annamalai C, Rao SSC.Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19:56. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0595-4
Mamieva Z, Poluektova E, Svistushkin V, et al.Antibiotics, gut microbiota, and irritable bowel syndrome: What are the relations?World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28:1204-1219. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i12.1204
Takakura W, Pimentel M.Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome - an update.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:664. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00664
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS patients: their illness experience and unmet needs.
Chey WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S.Irritable bowel syndrome: a clinical review.JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-958. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.0954
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).IBS in the Real World. 2002.
National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
Kinsinger SW.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
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