A chronic, painful, inflammatory gynaecological condition, endometriosis shares common symptoms with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which, according to Dr Jane Varney writing for the Monash University FODMAP Blog, can include:
- Visceral hypersensitivity.
- Bloating.
- Diarrhoea.
- Constipation.
- Pain on defaecation.
- Nausea.
The overlapping symptoms may make it difficult to identify the source of the symptoms, making diagnosis challenging and potentially leading to delayed treatment.
Now researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) have discovered why endometriosis and IBS symptoms may overlap and why patients with one condition may also have the other.
Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the research shows that endometriosis and IBS share genetic risk factors.
Professor Grant Montgomery and Dr Sally Mortlock at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience found a significant relationship between the risks for endometriosis and common gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
“This genetic finding supports the clinical observation of an increased incidence of gastrointestinal disorders in women with endometriosis,” says Professor Montgomery.
“We hope that this study will raise more awareness about the overlap of these conditions.”
Endometriosis is a severe condition affecting 1 in 7 women caused by tissue that resembles the uterus lining growing outside the uterus.
Women with endometriosis are twice as likely to have an IBS diagnosis compared to women without the disease and 1.4 times more likely to have a diagnosis of GORD.
“Sufferers can find it difficult to distinguish the source of their pain leading to confusion or misdiagnosis and years of delay in treatment during which time the endometriosis can progress to more severe disease,” says Professor Montgomery.
“Endometriosis should be considered as a possible cause if a woman presents to her GP with abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms.
“As our knowledge of risk factors for endometriosis increases, we hope to move closer to understanding how the disease develops and improve treatments and diagnosis,” he says.
