

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common digestive condition that affects the large intestine and can significantly interfere with daily life. Many people experience ongoing digestive discomfort without a clear structural cause, which can make IBS difficult to understand and manage. Learning to recognise irritable bowel syndrome symptoms is an important first step toward gaining control over the condition.
IBS is classified as a functional disorder, meaning symptoms occur despite the absence of visible damage or disease in the digestive tract. It is typically diagnosed after other conditions have been ruled out, which can make the process frustrating for those seeking answers. Symptoms vary from person to person and may include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or a combination of both. For some individuals, IBS may also affect fertility, adding another layer of concern.
Quick answer: Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, changes in stool consistency or frequency and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements. IBS is divided into different types based on dominant symptoms, including IBS with constipation, IBS with diarrhoea and mixed IBS.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that primarily affects the large intestine. Unlike inflammatory bowel diseases, IBS does not cause visible inflammation or damage to the digestive tract. Instead, symptoms arise from altered gut function, sensitivity and communication between the gut and the nervous system.
IBS is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. This means it is usually diagnosed only after other potential causes of digestive symptoms have been ruled out. Blood tests, stool tests or imaging may be used to exclude other conditions before IBS is identified. Because there is no single test for IBS, many people experience delays before receiving a diagnosis.
Because IBS does not show structural abnormalities, it can be challenging to diagnose. Symptoms often overlap with other digestive conditions, and the absence of visible disease may leave individuals feeling dismissed or misunderstood.
The diagnosis of exclusion approach ensures that serious conditions are ruled out, but it also means that IBS management relies heavily on lifestyle and dietary strategies rather than conventional medical treatments. This is why public healthcare systems often provide limited support for IBS, leaving individuals to manage symptoms through self-directed changes.
IBS symptoms can vary widely, but some are commonly reported across different types. These include:
Symptoms may fluctuate over time and can be influenced by stress, diet and lifestyle habits. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others may find their daily life significantly disrupted.
Living with IBS can be challenging due to the unpredictable nature of symptoms. Abdominal pain, bloating and irregular bowel movements can cause physical discomfort and fatigue, making it harder to focus at work or enjoy social activities.
Dietary restrictions often play a role in symptom management, which can impact eating out or attending social gatherings. The need to avoid certain foods may feel limiting and can affect quality of life.
The emotional toll of IBS is also significant. Unpredictable symptoms can lead to anxiety and stress, which may further worsen digestive issues. Frequent bathroom visits and discomfort can interfere with productivity and social confidence, while ongoing symptoms may contribute to mental and physical exhaustion.
IBS is divided into different types based on the dominant bowel pattern. Understanding which type of IBS is present is essential for identifying triggers and managing symptoms effectively.
IBS with constipation is characterised by hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass and infrequent bowel movements. People with IBS-C may experience abdominal pain, bloating and a persistent feeling of incomplete bowel emptying.
Constipation can cause discomfort and may contribute to fatigue and reduced appetite. Straining during bowel movements can also increase stress and discomfort. Managing IBS-C often involves dietary adjustments, hydration and attention to eating habits.
IBS with diarrhoea involves frequent loose or watery stools and an urgent need to use the bathroom. Abdominal cramping and bloating often accompany these symptoms.
IBS-D can be particularly disruptive due to its unpredictability. Frequent bowel movements may interfere with work, travel and social engagements. The fear of sudden urgency can increase anxiety and further worsen symptoms.
Mixed IBS features alternating symptoms of constipation and diarrhoea. Individuals may experience periods of hard stools followed by episodes of loose stools, sometimes within the same week.
IBS-M can be especially challenging because symptoms are less predictable. Managing this type often requires careful attention to diet, stress levels and daily routines.
Understanding which type of IBS you have helps guide symptom management strategies. IBS-C, IBS-D and IBS-M respond differently to dietary choices, hydration and eating habits. Identifying patterns allows for more targeted adjustments rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Research suggests that IBS may affect fertility, although the relationship is not fully understood. Several factors may contribute to this connection.
Chronic digestive discomfort and inflammation can influence hormonal balance and reproductive health. IBS may interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients needed for fertility. Dysbiosis, or imbalance in gut microbiota, which is common in IBS, may also affect egg and sperm quality.
Oxidative stress, which occurs when the body has more free radicals than it can neutralise, may influence fertility in both men and women. Stress and anxiety associated with IBS can further disrupt hormonal balance, menstrual cycles and ovulation in women, as well as sperm quality in men.
Managing IBS symptoms effectively may help reduce these impacts and support fertility.
Diet plays a central role in managing irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Identifying trigger foods and drinks is often one of the most effective steps.
Keeping a food diary can help track what you eat alongside symptoms, energy levels, mood and sleep. Over time, patterns may emerge that reveal which foods worsen symptoms.
Common triggers mentioned include:
Replacing these with water or herbal teas may help reduce symptoms. Herbs commonly used to support digestion include peppermint, fennel, chamomile, liquorice, cumin, anise, marigold, dandelion and ginger.
How you eat can be just as important as what you eat. Eating heavy meals or eating continuously throughout the day may overload digestion.
Eating until you feel around 80 percent full can reduce digestive strain. Allowing time between meals helps support natural digestive rhythms. Staying hydrated supports stool consistency and regular bowel movements.
During periods when symptoms are worse, choosing easy-to-digest foods can help reduce discomfort. Cooking vegetables rather than eating them raw makes them easier to tolerate. Soft fruits such as bananas, avocados, papaya, kiwi and mango may be gentler on digestion.
Nourishing soups, blended foods, smoothies and porridges like oatmeal can provide nutrients without overloading the gut. When choosing protein, lighter options such as chicken, fish and eggs may be easier to digest than heavy red meats.
Lifestyle changes play a key role in managing IBS symptoms.
Stress management is especially important, as stress can directly affect digestion. Practices such as meditation, yin yoga, qigong and breathing exercises may help calm the nervous system.
Regular physical activity supports digestion and reduces stress. Exercise does not need to be intense to be effective. Consistent, moderate movement can provide benefits without worsening symptoms.
Eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly helps digestion by reducing the workload on the stomach and intestines. Chewing food until it reaches a soft consistency supports nutrient absorption and digestive comfort.
Avoiding skipped meals and eating at consistent times each day helps regulate digestion. The digestive system benefits from routine and predictability.
Taking a few minutes to breathe deeply before meals can activate the body’s relaxation response, supporting digestion.
IBS is a chronic condition, but symptoms can often be improved with consistent dietary and lifestyle adjustments. Learning to recognise triggers, adopting supportive eating habits and managing stress can significantly reduce symptom severity.
Improved symptom control can enhance daily comfort, energy levels and emotional wellbeing. For those concerned about fertility, managing IBS may also help reduce factors that interfere with reproductive health.
Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms can affect many aspects of daily life, from physical comfort to emotional wellbeing and fertility. IBS is a functional disorder diagnosed after other conditions are ruled out, and symptoms vary widely between individuals.
Understanding the different types of IBS, recognising common symptoms and adopting supportive dietary and lifestyle strategies can help improve symptom management. While IBS may present challenges, informed and consistent approaches can lead to meaningful improvements in quality of life and overall health.
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00:00:00 Hi and welcome to the fourth video in this serious un-gut health and fertility. My name is Katrin and I'm an expert in gut and digestive disorders. In this video we will be focusing on irritable bowel syndrome, commonly known as IBIS. It is a very common syndrome that affects around 10-15% of the population. It is a very common syndrome that affects around 10-15% of the population. The diagnosis of IBIS is primarily a diagnosis of exclusion and what does that mean.
00:00:38 So it means that it is typically given after other potential causes of your symptoms have been ruled out. It is also a condition that you cannot get any help with in the public health care system because you need to work on diet and lifestyle. IBIS is a functional disorder that primarily affects the large intestine and IBIS is a functional disorder that primarily affects the large intestine and
00:01:04 can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, const ipation and diarrhea. It can significantly impact your quality of life and for some it may also affect fertility. There are three main types of IBIS. The first one is IBIS-C, where C stands for constipation.
00:01:26 The first one is IBIS-C, where C stands for constipation. This type is characterized by hard difficulty to pass stools and infrequent bowel movements. The next one is IBIS-D for diarrhea and this type involves frequent loose or watery stools. And finally there is IBIS-M-M for mixed. So this type features alternating symptoms of both constipation and diarrhea. So this type features alternating symptoms of both constipation and diarrhea.
00:02:02 Understanding which type of IBIS you have is crucial for trying to understand the underlying cause and for managing your symptoms effectively. If you want to know more about how to manage symptoms of constipation, bloating and diarrhea, then go back in what's video 3 where I go through this. So IBIS symptoms can vary from person to person but some common symptoms So IBIS symptoms can vary from person to person but some common symptoms
00:02:34 include abdominal pain or cramping, bloating and gas, diarrhea, constipation or alternating between these two, changes in stool consistency and frequency, not feeling empty after going to the toilet, muckus in the stool, fatigue, headache and joint pain. muckus in the stool, fatigue, headache and joint pain. Staying with IBIS can be challenging and it can affect various aspects of your
00:03:07 daily life. Like chronic pain, bloating and irregular bowel movements can lead to physical discomfort and fatigue. Dietary restrictions. Managing IBIS often involves avoiding certain foods which can be restrictive and impact
00:03:28 social activities. social activities. Emotional stress. The unpredictable nature of IBIS symptoms can cause anxiety and stress which can make the condition even worse. Work and social life. So frequent bathroom visits and discomfort can interfere with work productivity
00:03:55 and also social engagements. And then also mental and physical health. And then also mental and physical health. So IBIS can also affect your overall health by disrupting for instance nutrient absorption and leading to deficiencies and impacting mental health due to the chronic stress and
00:04:16 discomfort. Which suggests that IBIS can impact fertility in several ways although the exact relationship is not fully understood. is not fully understood. But here are some possible connections. First of all chronic inflammation associated with IBIS can affect hormone balance and reproductive
00:04:41 health. Then IBIS can interfere with absorption of essential nutrients which are crucial for the reproductive health. This biosis which is an imbalance of the gut microbiota and this is quite This biosis which is an imbalance of the gut microbiota and this is quite common in IBIS.
00:05:02 It can affect egg and sperm quality. Oxidative stress which is when you have too many toxic free radicals in your body and not enough oxidant capacity to protect against it. And oxidative stress it can influence both fertility in men and in women. Then the stress and discomfort of IBIS and the dysbiosis can disrupt hormonal Then the stress and discomfort of IBIS and the dysbiosis can disrupt hormonal balance
00:05:33 which can affect the menstrual cycle and ovulation in women and sperm quality in men. And finally there is a psychological impact. So the anxiety and stress that can often be related to IBIS can also play a role in fertility issues. So managing IBIS effectively can help reduce these impacts and improve your So managing IBIS effectively can help reduce these impacts and improve your
00:06:00 challenges of conceiving. Having IBIS involves a combination of dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments and here are some strategies that can help. First of all identify and avoid trigger foods and drinks. To do this try to keep a food diary where you write down what you eat and then how you
00:06:28 feel, your energy levels, your mood, your sleep and so on. feel, your energy levels, your mood, your sleep and so on. And also your symptoms of course. And this is to try to find patterns and identifying foods and drinks that triggers your symptoms so you can avoid them. Some of the most common drinks that can trigger are alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, artificial
00:06:55 sweeteners and sugar. So instead drink water and tea made of herbs. So instead drink water and tea made of herbs. Some herbs that are good for the digestion includes peppermint, fennel, chamom ile, liquid root, cumin, anise, marigold, dandelion and ginger. Don't eat too heavy meals and do not eat all the time. So don't eat until you are completely full but eat until you are approximately
00:07:28 80% full and also don't eat all the time but try with some regular meals and some hours and also don't eat all the time but try with some regular meals and some hours between your meals as well. Stay hydrated so drinking enough water helps with stool consistency and also promotes regular bowl movements.
00:07:49 And then try eating easy to digest foods when needed. So in periods where you feel worse and you have more symptoms from your digestive tract digestive tract you can try more easy to digest food. So try limiting raw food but cook it instead. So with your vegetables you can boil, steam, bake and fry them. When it comes to fruit you can try to go after more soft fruits like bananas,
00:08:20 avocados, papaya, kiwi and mango. You can also try with nourishing soups or blended foods such as mass soups and You can also try with nourishing soups or blended foods such as mass soups and smoothies and porridge like oatmeal. When it comes to meat go after chicken, fish and eggs instead of heavy red meat .
00:08:45 Then there are some lifestyle adjustments. So you should be aware to manage stress, try to practice stress reducing techniques like meditation, yin yoga, chigong or some different breathing exercises. meditation, yin yoga, chigong or some different breathing exercises. Exercise regularly because regular physical activity can help improve digestion and reduce stress.
00:09:13 When it comes to how to eat there are also some things to be aware. First of all eat slowly. So take your time to chew your food well to an applesauce consistency because this will help your digestive process. help your digestive process. Also try not to skip meals and it can also be a good idea to eat at the regular at the
00:09:37 same time every day because your digestion actually likes routines. And this will help to strengthen your digestive fire. And then you could try deep breathing before eating. So try to sit down before you're going to eat and breathe deeply for two minutes before you start eating. you start eating. So implementing these strategies can help you manage ideas symptoms effectively
00:10:06 and it can improve your quality of life and also your fertility. Then here in the end I just want to say thank you very much for joining me in this video. I hope you found the information helpful and that you are motivated to try some of the new things. If you have any questions or if you need any further help please feel free to
00:10:27 If you have any questions or if you need any further help please feel free to reach out to me, you can find my contact details here and if you would like to know more you can also follow me on social media like Instagram where I share knowledge, advice and so on. So take care and bye.