---
title: Do women with both IBS and PMS experience worse symptoms than those with IBS alone?
description: Yes, women with both conditions had more stress, more severe bowel and psychological symptoms, and longer episodes with slower recovery compared to those with
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/increased-incidence-of-bowel-and-psychological-symptoms-in-chinese-female-d-ibs-2014/
---

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- Do women with both IBS and PMS experience worse symptoms than those with IBS alone?

Survey study, 2014

# Do women with both IBS and PMS experience worse symptoms than those with IBS alone?

Yes, women with both conditions had more stress, more severe bowel and psychological symptoms, and longer episodes with slower recovery compared to those with IBS alone.

 Early or limited evidence

233 women of reproductive age in China with diarrhea-predominant IBS

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 233 women of reproductive age in China. Researchers compared those with diarrhea-predominant IBS alone to those with both IBS and PMS using questionnaires about stress, bowel habits, gynecological symptoms, and psychological symptoms.

## What they found

Women with both IBS and PMS had significantly increased stress and gynecological events, more severe bowel symptoms, and more severe psychological symptoms than those with IBS alone. The overlapping syndromes were associated with repeated episodes of longer duration and delayed recovery.

## What it means for you

Having both PMS and IBS together worsens symptoms overall. This is a preliminary study using only questionnaires, so larger studies with blood tests are needed to confirm the findings and explain the mechanisms.

233

women studied

## About the study

Original title Increased incidence of bowel and psychological symptoms in Chinese female D-IBS patients with premenstrual syndrome Authors Zhang Y, Bo P, Li X Journal Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Year 2014 Study design Survey study Participants 233 What was tested None (observational study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/sga.0000000000000067](https://doi.org/10.1097/sga.0000000000000067)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[IBS and gut symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ibs-gi/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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