Do you have stomach pain that won't go away? Examine Yourself For Irritable Bowel Disease!

Have you been suffering from continuous stomach pain or unexplainable weight loss?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an illness that affects not only the intestines but also a person's overall health. Women, on the other hand, are affected in a far more profound way.

Please tell us more about this issue and how it affects the health of women.

What Is Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)?

"Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract,"  

"By inflammation, we mean any region of the digestive tract that gets red and swollen, resulting in unpleasant body feelings."

The term "inflammatory bowel disease" refers to two conditions:

• Colitis Ulcerative
• Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects

This disease can affect anyone, however it is most frequent in those between the ages of 15 and 40.

"IBD has an effect on women's menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause in some way.

Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease - How can I know if I have IBD?

People who have one of the two diseases may experience some of the same symptoms. The following are —

• Recurrent diarrhoea, frequently accompanied with blood or pus
• Abdominal pain or cramping that is severe and persistent
• Rectal discomfort
• Stool with blood (rectal bleeding)
• Urges to pass stool on the spur of the moment
• Despite the need, inability to defecate
• Weight loss, weariness, and fever follow a loss of appetite.

"The important to note here is that in the case of IBD, symptoms tend to come and go. People will go for lengthy periods of time without experiencing any symptoms. When the disease remains inactive, this is known as a remission period. However, they will experience flare-ups in which the symptoms may recur and the disease will become active again.

Let's take a closer look at these two IBD disorders.

Colitis Ulcerative

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel illness that affects the large intestine (colon) and the rectum (last section of the colon).

It inflames the interior lining of the colon, causing ulcers or open sores to occur. These ulcers can also produce pus and mucus, which can cause abdominal pain.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation throughout the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.

Inflammation can develop deep into the damaged tissues in this illness, causing significant damage to that region of the digestive system.

Both illnesses have symptoms that are nearly identical.

Crohn's disease causes deep tissue inflammation, which can lead to a number of problems, including —

• Crohn's disease alters the thickness of the intestinal wall, causing bowel blockage. Due to the inflammation, particular portions of the gut get damaged and narrowed over time. This prevents the bowel from moving normally.
• Fistulas- Fistulas are improperly connected bodily components that look like tunnels. Ulcers might form as a result of the inflammation that occurs. Fistulas can occur when ulcers spread through the intestinal wall. Fistulas can form between the gut and the vaginal or urinary bladder.
• Anal fissures - Small tears in the lining of the anus can form in severe cases of Crohn's Disease. Fissures are what they're called. When a person has anal fissures, it hurts to pass faeces.
• Colon cancer - When Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis affects the colon, the risk of colon cancer increases.

However, the topic of what causes these chronic inflammatory disorders remains unanswered.

What causes irritable bowel syndrome?

Although the specific aetiology of IBD is unknown, there are a few possibilities that could explain why some people get it:

Aberrant immune reaction - IBD is sometimes thought to be caused by an immune system response that is abnormal.

"The immune system protects us from alien invaders like germs and fungi by attacking and killing them. In IBD, however, rather than attacking external intruders, the immune system attacks a section of the digestive tract. This causes inflammation in the affected area."

Family history of IBD - People who have a family history of IBD are more likely to get it themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions about Women and Irritable Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic disease that affects women's reproductive health.

"Women with IBD come to me with a lot of questions about their menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and post-menopausal life.

Some of these concerns are addressed further down —

What effect does Irritable Bowel Disease have on my menstrual cycle?

"With IBD, menstrual cycles become erratic. This occurs because several things influence the menstrual cycle, including hormone levels in the body, correct diet, and stress levels. The body can't absorb the nutrients it needs to operate correctly in IBD because of the inflammation. "A lack of adequate nutrition causes the body to shut down, resulting in faulty hormone functioning, which subsequently impacts the menstrual cycle.

With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, am I able to conceive naturally?

IBD has little effect on a woman's fertility.

In the event of Crohn's Disease, women may require significant surgery to alleviate symptoms. Due to the formation of scar tissues, this raises the chance of infertility.

"If you have IBD, you should seek medical advice before trying to conceive."

What happens if I become pregnant while suffering from IBD?

The nature of the condition during pregnancy is determined by its pre-pregnancy stage.

"What this means is that if your IBD was inactive before you became pregnant, i.e. you were in your remission period, your condition is likely to remain in remission during the course of pregnancy. If you get pregnant while your disease is active (flare-up period), your symptoms will almost certainly remain or worsen."

"As a result, I advise my patients to try to conceive while their condition remains dormant."

Inflammatory Bowel Disease during Pregnancy: How Will It Affect My Baby?

Women who get pregnant when their condition is active are more likely to experience difficulties such as foetal loss or premature birth.

"A baby's growth and development during pregnancy is dependent on the status of IBD and its severity. It also depends on the therapeutic strategies used at the time."

"A pregnant woman with IBD should see both a gastroenterologist and an obstetrician during her pregnancy to ensure that both the mother and the baby are healthy."

Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Menopause: How Does It Affect You?

Menopause is unaffected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

"A woman with IBD who is simultaneously going through menopause is more likely to have bone disorders such as osteoporosis." This is due to the body's lack of proper nutrition, which suffers greatly after menopause."

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment - What is the best way to deal with IBD?

Neither Ulcerative Colitis nor Crohn's Disease have a lasting cure.

"IBD treatment mainly focuses on alleviating symptoms and extending the remission period so that people can remain symptom-free for extended periods of time." This can be accomplished by lowering inflammation through a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes as well as medicines. When the condition becomes more serious, surgery may be recommended, according to Dr. Nivedita.

Medication

• Anti-inflammatory medications are the first line of defence in the fight against IBD. They aid in the reduction of inflammation in the inflamed area.
• Immune system suppressors: These drugs work by lowering the immune system's activity, which produces inflammation.
• Antibiotics: These aid with symptom relief.

Dietary and lifestyle changes

• Keep track of everything you consume and which foods make your symptoms worse. Try to stay away from those foods.
• Alcohol should be consumed in moderation or not at all.
• Small meals are recommended. Instead of three large meals a day, eat 5 to 6 times a day.
• Drink plenty of water on a regular basis.
• Smoking should be avoided. It will aggravate the symptoms.
• Exercise on a regular basis. This will assist you in managing stress and restoring regularity to your bowel motions.

Surgery

"We only recommend surgery when the illness has progressed to the point that medicine is no longer effective."

When the entire colon and rectum become badly damaged due to Ulcerative Colitis, they are surgically removed. The end of the small intestine is then used to build a pouch. It is then immediately linked to the anus, allowing the patient to pass waste regularly.

Surgery to remove the damaged sections of the digestive tract and rejoin the healthier sections to facilitate adequate bowel movement is frequently required in Crohn's Disease.