Gender role and irritable bowel syndrome: Literature review and hypothesis

Studies examining the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) consiste ntly show that women outnumber men in both patient and nonpatient populatio ns. However, because IBS does affect both women and men, it is important to examine and to understand gender similarities and differences in the expre ssion of this complex disorder. Studies that have explored gender differenc es have focused their investigations on prevalence and health seeking behav ior, physical and psychological symptomotology, and abuse history. This art icle reviews and summarizes the findings from those studies. As well, where as the literature examining differences between men and women with IBS has focused on distinctions based on the biological sex of study participants, this article offers an alternate approach to the exploration of gender diff erences. The concept of gender role, defined as generalizations about appro priate male and female traits that are associated with masculinity and femi ninity, may further our understanding of IBS in both women and men.