Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Quiz
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Stomach ache
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Diarrhea
Constipation
Stomach pain with diarrhea
Mucus in stool
My stomach is rumbling
Stomach ache after eating
Loose stool not diarrhea
Pressure and fullness in upper abdomen
Lower abdominal pain
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
A condition with recurring episodes of abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS is diagnosed when no clear cause can be found despite investigations. The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but stress and certain foods are known to cause flare-ups.
Typical Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Abdominal bloating after meals
- Constipation with urge to go but unable to pass stool
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Diarrhea followed by constipation, or vice versa
- Diarrhea commonly occurs before going to school
- Stomach or abdominal pain that improves with bowel movements
- Stomach or abdominal pain with frequent bowel movements
- Stomach or abdominal pain followed by loose stools
Diagnostic Questions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have abdominal bloating after meals?
- Do you have constipation where you feel the urge to go but can't pass stool?
- Do you have any stomach or abdominal pain?
- Do you have alternating diarrhea and constipation?
- Do you have morning diarrhea before school?
Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is treated by avoiding triggers and alleviating symptoms. Identifying triggers like dairy, beans, fried food, or stress may help. The doctor may prescribe medications to relieve symptoms of diarrhea or stomach cramps. A FODMAPs diet may also be effective.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Nov 15, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
Think you might have
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
Try a symptom check testHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Stomachache
- I have lower abdominal pain
- I have left lower abdominal pain
- Pain in the lower right stomach
- Upper left abdominal pain
- Upper right abdominal pain
- Have periodic abdominal pain
- Have pelvic pain
- Sharp abdominal pain
- Localized abdominal pain
- Flank pain
See full list
Symptoms Related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Diseases Related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
FAQs
Q.
Parasite Cleanse? Why Your Gut Is Struggling & Medically Approved Steps
A.
Most gut symptoms are not due to hidden parasites, and common cleanses are unproven and risky; true infections are less common and usually tied to clear risk factors and symptoms like persistent diarrhea, weight loss, fever, blood in stool, or nighttime anal itching. There are several factors to consider, so see below for medically approved steps including when to get stool testing, which prescription treatments work if a parasite is confirmed, safer gut strategies for IBS and food sensitivities, and red flags that require urgent care, as important details below could change your next steps.
References:
* Shagirova, A., Kalugin, S., Bondarenko, L., & Nikitin, K. (2022). The interplay between gut microbiota and intestinal parasitic infections: A review. *Experimental parasitology*, *238*, 108269. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35688469/
* Abate, E., Belay, A., & Legesse, M. (2021). The human gut microbiome and its association with intestinal parasitic infections. *Parasitology research*, *120*(4), 1195-1205. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33656515/
* Verweij, J. J. (2020). Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Intestinal Protozoan Infections. *Current infectious disease reports*, *22*(11), 38. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32909195/
* Wuerz, T. (2017). Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasitic Infections. *Infectious disease clinics of North America*, *31*(2), 373-388. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28456488/
* Belkaid, Y., & Hand, T. W. (2019). Gut microbiota in parasitic infections: The good, the bad and the ugly. *Microbiome*, *7*(1), 164. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31801452/
Q.
Gut Tied in Knots? Why Your IBS is Spiraling & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
IBS flares often spiral due to stress, high FODMAP foods, hormonal shifts, and routine or sleep changes, or because your plan is not matched to your IBS type; IBS is real, common, and manageable and does not damage the intestines or lead to IBD or cancer. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more and to review medically approved next steps like confirming the diagnosis and ruling out red flags, trying a short-term low FODMAP diet with a dietitian, using the right fiber and subtype-specific medicines, and adding gut-brain therapies, plus when to seek urgent care.
References:
* Ford, A. C., & Lacy, B. E. (2023). Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management. *Gastroenterology*, *165*(2), 332–348.
* Quigley, E. M. M. (2022). Irritable bowel syndrome: A focus on the role of the microbiome and its interactions. *Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology*, *56-57*, 101799.
* Lee, Y. J., & Lee, D. H. (2021). Pathophysiology and Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Role of the Gut Microbiota. *International Journal of Molecular Sciences*, *22*(5), 2911.
* Lacy, B. E., Patel, N. K., & Ford, A. C. (2021). New and emerging treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. *Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology*, *55*(2), 99–106.
* Gibson, P. R. (2022). Dietary management of IBS: progress and controversies. *Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology*, *37*(4), 606–613.
Q.
Internal Riot? Why Your Gut Is Misfiring and Medical Steps for IBS Relief
A.
IBS is a common, real disorder of gut brain interaction that causes recurrent abdominal pain with diarrhea, constipation, or both, often driven by altered motility, visceral hypersensitivity, microbiome shifts, and stress triggers. Relief usually comes from a tailored plan that may include a short-term low FODMAP trial with guidance, soluble fiber for IBS-C, targeted medicines by subtype, brain gut therapies, select probiotics, and steady routines, while red flags like bleeding, unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, severe night pain, anemia, new symptoms after 50, or a strong family history of colon cancer or IBD need prompt care. There are several factors to consider; see the full guidance below to choose the right next steps and avoid missing important details that could change your treatment.
References:
* Ford AC, Lacy BE, Talley NJ. Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome: a comprehensive review. Dig Dis Sci. 2021 May;66(5):1617-1634. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06637-2. Epub 2020 Oct 7. PMID: 33026601; PMCID: PMC8041551.
* Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, Chey WD, Keefer JJ, Long MD, Moshiree B, Sayuk GS, Shanahan F, Spiegel BMR, Sultan S, Triadafilopoulos G, Ford AC. AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on the Pharmacological Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation or Diarrhea. Gastroenterology. 2021 Oct;161(4):1321-1339. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.07.050. Epub 2021 Jul 29. PMID: 34333068; PMCID: PMC8492040.
* Roda G, Chien Ng S, Spinelli A, Danese S. The role of the gut microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2020 Sep 11;13:1756284820956272. doi: 10.1177/1756284820956272. PMID: 32973950; PMCID: PMC7490074.
* Black CJ, Ford AC. Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2020 Feb;158(3):790-804. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.11.033. Epub 2019 Dec 5. PMID: 31816353; PMCID: PMC7230491.
* Park JM, Heo H, Kim HJ, Park H. Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: How to Treat the Brain and the Gut. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2020 Jul 30;26(3):301-311. doi: 10.5056/jnm20022. PMID: 32448378; PMCID: PMC7359560.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Borghini R, Donato G, Alvaro D, Picarelli A. New insights in IBS-like disorders: Pandora's box has been opened; a review. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2017 Spring;10(2):79-89. PMID: 28702130; PMCID: PMC5495893.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5495893/Fond G, Loundou A, Hamdani N, Boukouaci W, Dargel A, Oliveira J, Roger M, Tamouza R, Leboyer M, Boyer L. Anxiety and depression comorbidities in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014 Dec;264(8):651-60. doi: 10.1007/s00406-014-0502-z. Epub 2014 Apr 6. PMID: 24705634.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00406-014-0502-zAltomare A, Di Rosa C, Imperia E, Emerenziani S, Cicala M, Guarino MPL. Diarrhea Predominant-Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D): Effects of Different Nutritional Patterns on Intestinal Dysbiosis and Symptoms. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 29;13(5):1506. doi: 10.3390/nu13051506. PMID: 33946961; PMCID: PMC8146452.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/5/1506Nee J, Lembo A. Review Article: Current and future treatment approaches for IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and IBS mixed pattern (IBS-M). Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021 Dec;54 Suppl 1:S63-S74. doi: 10.1111/apt.16625. PMID: 34927757.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apt.16625