Irritable bowel syndrome: does gender matter?

In industrialized parts of the world, women seek health care services for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) more frequently than men. The role of gender in IBS is likely multifactorial involving inherent physiological differences in gonadal hormones, stress reactivity, and inflammatory responses, as well as sociocultural differences in response to pain and/or bowel pattern changes. This mini-review in particular addresses gender differences in visceral sensitivity, motility, and autonomic nervous system balance as potential factors contributing to gender differences in IBS presentation.