Gastroenterology

Yes, IBD can cause bowel urgency at night, and when it wakes you from sleep it often reflects active inflammation and is more typical of IBD than IBS. Persistent or worsening nighttime urgency should prompt medical attention, since effective treatment can reduce or eliminate it. There are several factors to consider, including rectal involvement, flares, red flags, and next steps for evaluation and treatment, so see the complete answer below.

Yes, IBD can cause daily stomach discomfort, often during flares and sometimes even in remission, and the pattern and severity vary widely. There are several factors to consider; see below for why discomfort can persist, how to tell flare from IBS-like overlap, red flags that need urgent care, and what evaluation and treatments may help.

Yes, inflammatory bowel disease can cause iron deficiency anemia in women and is common, due to chronic intestinal blood loss, reduced absorption, and inflammation that blocks iron availability, compounded by menstrual or pregnancy needs. There are several factors to consider, including routine screening, interpreting iron tests during inflammation, and choosing oral versus IV iron while controlling IBD activity; see the complete answer below for next steps and the urgent symptoms that require immediate care.

Yes, IBD can cause pelvic pain in females, especially during flares, through inflammation near pelvic organs or complications like perianal disease, adhesions, pelvic floor dysfunction, hormonal shifts, and overlap with endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or IBS. There are several factors to consider. See below for red flags that need urgent care and how doctors evaluate and treat these causes, which can guide your next steps.

Yes, IBD symptoms can be mild yet persistent; this common pattern often reflects low-grade inflammation that still deserves monitoring and can affect long-term health. There are several factors to consider, including how to distinguish IBD from IBS, when to seek medical care for red flags, and which tests and treatments may help; see below to understand more and plan your next steps.

Yes, IBS can cause severe abdominal pain that is very real and sometimes disabling, even though the condition does not damage the gut. Pain often stems from heightened gut sensitivity, abnormal intestinal contractions, gas, and gut brain interactions. There are several factors and red flags to consider that can change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below for triggers, when to seek medical care, and what diagnosis and treatment typically involve.

IBS does not lead to IBD or colorectal cancer, and it does not cause intestinal damage or raise long-term cancer risk. There are several factors to consider, including symptom overlap that can delay an IBD diagnosis, red flag signs that need prompt medical review, and when routine colorectal cancer screening still applies; see below to understand more and how these details could influence your next steps.

It can be strongly suspected without a colonoscopy using stool markers like fecal calprotectin, blood tests, and imaging, but most diagnoses still require a colonoscopy with biopsies to confirm the exact type and severity. There are several factors to consider, including when colonoscopy may be deferred, how to tell IBD from IBS, and which warning symptoms need urgent care. See below to understand more and choose the right next steps with your clinician.

Yes, it can be serious, though many cases are mild and brief from gas, constipation, muscle strain, or menstrual cramps; other times it can signal appendicitis, diverticulitis, UTIs, kidney stones, ovarian or testicular problems, or ectopic pregnancy. There are several factors to consider, especially red flags like severe or worsening pain, fever, persistent vomiting, blood in stool or urine, pregnancy, dizziness, or a hard swollen belly; see the complete guidance below for when to self care, use a symptom checker, talk to a doctor, or seek urgent care.

Pregnancy does not automatically worsen bowel inflammation; many people stay the same or improve, though flares can occur, especially if the disease is active at conception or treatment is stopped. There are several factors to consider, including medication safety, nutrition, infections, stress, and postpartum changes, so see the detailed guidance below for what increases risk and the key steps to take, including when to seek urgent care.

Yes, ulcerative colitis can cause abdominal or rectal pain even without diarrhea, due to inflammation, rectal-only involvement, or lingering gut sensitivity during remission. There are several factors to consider, including warning signs that need prompt care and other conditions that can mimic these symptoms; see below for key red flags, diagnostic steps, and practical next actions to discuss with your doctor.

Yes, ulcerative colitis can cause sudden bleeding during bowel movements; rectal bleeding is common during flares when inflamed ulcers in the colon and rectum bleed, often showing as bright red blood or blood mixed with stool or mucus. There are several factors to consider, including other possible causes, warning signs that need urgent care, and how doctors evaluate and treat bleeding; see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Yes, ulcerative colitis symptoms can worsen suddenly; flares may develop over hours to days with more frequent and urgent stools, blood or mucus, cramping, and fatigue. Triggers can include missed medications, infections, stress, diet changes, certain drugs like NSAIDs or antibiotics, and disease progression; seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or signs of dehydration. There are several factors to consider, and key details on treatment, prevention, and when to call a doctor are explained below.

Yes, untreated inflammatory bowel disease can lead to progressive intestinal damage with strictures or blockages, fistulas or abscesses, bleeding and iron deficiency anemia, malnutrition and growth delays in children, a higher chance of surgery and colorectal cancer, and complications outside the gut involving the joints, eyes, skin, liver, and bones. There are several factors to consider, and early diagnosis and treatment lower these risks; see below for important details, including red flags that need urgent care and what to discuss with a gastroenterologist to guide your next steps.

Chronic diarrhea means loose or frequent stools lasting 4 weeks or more or recurring over months, and it can result from IBS, IBD, microscopic colitis, lingering infections, food intolerances like lactose or celiac disease, medications, malabsorption, or hormonal issues. There are several factors to consider; see below for red flags that need urgent care such as blood, weight loss, nighttime diarrhea, fever, severe pain, or dehydration. Evaluation and treatment vary by cause and may include history, blood and stool tests, breath tests or endoscopy, plus practical steps like hydration, diet adjustments, stress management, and medication changes under medical guidance, with full details and next-step guidance outlined below.

Persistent crampy abdominal pain can stem from IBS or IBD; IBS is a functional issue without inflammation that often eases after bowel movements or with diet changes, while IBD is inflammatory, may cause nighttime or more localized pain, and usually needs medical treatment. Red flags like blood in the stool, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fever, anemia, or pain that wakes you should prompt urgent medical care. There are several factors to consider; see below for key details on symptoms, tests, and when to seek help, which could change your next steps.

Yes, many women with Crohn’s notice abdominal pain and bowel symptoms get worse just before and during their period due to hormonal shifts and prostaglandins that speed gut activity and heighten pain sensitivity. There are several factors to consider, and the key differences between period-related symptom spikes and a true Crohn’s flare are explained below. Important details below cover what patterns suggest hormones vs inflammation, warning signs that need urgent care, safer pain relief than NSAIDs, the roles of anemia, stress, sleep, hydration and diet, and why tracking cycles helps guide treatment with your gastroenterologist and gynecologist.

No, bleeding with Crohn’s is not constant; it usually happens during flares and is more likely when the colon or rectum is involved, while many people have long stretches with little or no bleeding. There are several factors to consider. See below for red flags that need urgent care, other possible causes of bleeding, and how evaluation and treatment can reduce risk and manage symptoms.

Drinking enough water can help many people with IBS, especially by easing constipation through softer stools and by preventing dehydration during diarrhea, but it is not a cure. There are several factors to consider, including your IBS subtype and how and when you drink, which can change your next steps. The complete answer below covers hydration targets, practical tips, how water fits with other treatments, and red flag symptoms that mean you should see a doctor.

No. IBD does not always cause rectal bleeding. It is more common in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn's, tends to appear during flares, and may be absent in remission or when disease is mild or not involving the rectum. There are several factors to consider, including other non-IBD causes of bleeding and red flags that warrant urgent evaluation; see below for important details that could affect your next steps in care.