Endometriosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Arch Gynecol Obstet

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2020 Sep 19

PMID 32949284

Citations 26

Authors

Francesca Chiaffarino

Sonia Cipriani

Elena Ricci

Paola Agnese Mauri

Giovanna Esposito

Marta Barretta

Paolo Vercellini

Fabio Parazzini

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Irritable bowel disease and endometriosis are two common diseases characterized by chronic inflammation state and recurrent abdominal pain. As a consequence of sharing of symptoms and chronic inflammation, endometriosis and IBS may coexist and be misdiagnosed and this leads to delays in diagnosis, mismanagement, and unnecessary testing. In recent years, some studies have found higher risk of IBS in women with endometriosis, compared to women without endometriosis. To provide a general overview, we performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis on published data on this issue.

Methods: By a systematic literature search selection process, 11 studies were identified for the current study: 2 prospective and 2 retrospective cohort studies, 4 case-control studies, 1 cross-sectional study and 2 clinical series.

Results: When we meta-analysed data about the prevalence of IBS in women with endometriosis, the overall OR (95%CI), compared to women without endometriosis was 3.26 (1.97-5.39) with no statistically significant heterogeneity. All three studies considering the incidence of IBS in women with a previous diagnosis of endometriosis showed about twofold greater risk among women with endometriosis than women without. Likewise, in the random effects model of the meta-analysis, the overall OR of history of IBS in women with endometriosis was 3.10 (95% CI 2.06-4.67), with no heterogeneity between three studies considered.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides epidemiological evidence of a link between endometriosis and IBS, highlighting two or more times higher risk of IBS in women with endometriosis compared to women without the condition.

Citing Articles

Comprehensive Management of Bowel Endometriosis: Surgical Techniques, Outcomes, and Best Practices.

Tsuei A, Nezhat F, Amirlatifi N, Najmi Z, Nezhat A, Nezhat C J Clin Med. 2025; 14(3).

PMID: 39941647 PMC: 11818743. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14030977.

Impact of deep or ovarian endometriosis on pelvic pain and quality of life: prospective cross-sectional ultrasound study.

Chaggar P, Tellum T, Thanatsis N, De Braud L, Setty T, Jurkovic D Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2025; 65(3):372-383.

PMID: 39810311 PMC: 11872344. DOI: 10.1002/uog.29150.

Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in endometriosis patients: A cross-sectional study.

Aldardier N, Eissa G, Shaheen A, Sanedi A, Alghamdi T, Habadi R J Family Med Prim Care. 2024; 13(11):4931-4936.

PMID: 39722942 PMC: 11668458. DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_509_24.

Dietary and Nutritional Interventions for the Management of Endometriosis.

Abulughod N, Valakas S, El-Assaad F Nutrients. 2024; 16(23).

PMID: 39683382 PMC: 11643425. DOI: 10.3390/nu16233988.

Comprehensive endometriosis care: a modern multimodal approach for the treatment of pelvic pain and endometriosis.

Mick I, Freger S, van Keizerswaard J, Gholiof M, Leonardi M Ther Adv Reprod Health. 2024; 18:26334941241277759.

PMID: 39376635 PMC: 11457249. DOI: 10.1177/26334941241277759.

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