Gut issues are more common in women
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 15% of the population – and disproportionately affects women. “For some reason, it’s more likely in women than men. I don’t know whether it’s an oestrogen-related thing. Possibly,” says Dr Bobart. “Also, I think women are more in tune with their physical health… so it might be underdiagnosed in men.”
That includes more serious conditions like Crohn’s disease, which she says can present in several ways – and can have knock-on effects far beyond digestion.
“Crohn’s can present [with] bloody diarrhoea. It’s a malabsorption problem – several bowel motions throughout a day, potentially bloody. But Crohn’s affects [the body] from the gum to the bum. You get ulcerations all along the…