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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

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Overview

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Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Learn about what IBS is and how it can be managed

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system.

The condition is often lifelong, although the symptoms may change over time. With the right strategies, IBS can be successfully managed.

IBS does not pose a serious threat to your physical health and doesn’t increase your chances of developing cancer or other bowel-related conditions.

The exact cause of IBS is unknown. Many causes have been suggested but none have been proven to lead to IBS.

More about IBS

Explore more IBS topics on NHS inform.

Common Symptoms

Heartburn sick abdominal (stomach) pain and cramping, which may be relieved by moving your bowels change in your bowel habits – like diarrhoea, constipation or sometimes both bloating and swelling of your stomach excessive wind (flatulence) occasionally experiencing an urgent need to move your bowels lack of energy (lethargy)

⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.

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Medicines Commonly Used

⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.

No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.

When to See a Doctor

When to See a Doctor

Please contact your GP practice urgently if you notice any of the following, along with your usual symptoms:

  • a change in your bowel habits lasting more than 6 weeks, especially if you are over 50 years old
  • unexplained weight loss
  • a swelling or lump in your stomach or back passage
  • bleeding from your back passage

These signs can sometimes point to a more serious underlying condition, so it is best not to ignore them.

You should also let your GP know if you have these symptoms and a family history of bowel cancer or ovarian cancer.

Diagnosis

There's no specific test that diagnoses IBS. In most cases, your doctor can tell from your symptoms and history, along with some basic blood and stool tests to rule out other problems.

Since IBS symptoms can look like other conditions, such as coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, it's important to check for these first.

Try not to change your diet before these tests are done. This matters especially for the coeliac blood test, since your diet can affect the result.

Private allergy tests, such as hair sample testing, are not a dependable way to check for allergies or intolerances. If this worries you, talk to your doctor.

Treatment

Managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Learn about things that can help IBS symptoms

IBS and your mental health

Learn about the link between IBS and mental health and what can help

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (BSL)

What IBS is and how it’s treated in British Sign Language (BSL)

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