Bowel diseases and their symptoms in women

The intestine is the longest part of the digestive tract, which ensures the digestion of food, the assimilation of essential substances and vitamins. He also participates in the processes of excretion of metabolic products from the body, the production of hormones, and the provision of the patient's immunity. Therefore, many diseases in women are accompanied by intestinal damage, and at the same time, pathologies of the digestive system can lead to the development of diseases of other organs.

Important! The small and large intestines are located close to the female reproductive organs - the uterus and ovaries. Therefore, inflammatory processes that are not treated in time can go to them. As a result, a difficult situation arises, which often ends with surgery and infertility.

Causes of intestinal pathologies

Bowel diseases usually develop gradually. Usually, in this case, the effect of several causal factors is noted at once. The more of them, the more severe the disease progresses and the more parts of the intestine are involved in the pathological process. This condition is more difficult to drug therapy, there is a high probability of transition to a chronic incurable form of the disease.

The risk of developing intestinal diseases in women increases due to:

• the presence of a genetic predisposition;
• disorders of the immune status;
• inaccuracies in diet;
• chronic stress, overwork;
• lack of physical activity;
• smoking and other bad habits;
• previous intestinal infections, the presence of chronic infectious pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• long-term use of medications, such as antibiotics.

Some of the factors listed above are unavoidable, for example, hereditary predisposition. However, most of the causes that can lead to intestinal illness, if desired, you can get rid of. At the same time, it is believed that modifiable factors play a large role in the development of the disease - the contribution of lifestyle to the formation of pathology is at least 80%.

Epidemiology

The highest incidence of gastrointestinal diseases in women is noted in developed countries. Approximately 90% of the adult population suffers from such pathologies. The incidence depends little on the gender of the patients - according to the statistics, the disease occurs equally often in men and women.

Some types of intestinal pathology are widespread, others are more rare. For example, at least a quarter of the population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome. And Crohn's disease is diagnosed no more often than 200 patients per 100,000 population.

Intestinal symptoms

All intestinal pathologies manifest themselves with approximately the same symptoms. The differences lie in the predominance of some manifestations over others and their severity. There are several groups of clinical signs:

• defecation disorders - diarrhea or constipation, in some cases their alternation is possible;
• flatulence;
• pain in the abdomen;
• violation of appetite;
• the presence of impurities in the stool, such as blood, pus, or mucus;
• violation of the assimilation of nutrients and vitamins, which is manifested by a decrease in weight, the body's defenses, and a deterioration in general well-being.

Depending on the cause, localization of the pathological process, as well as on its severity, the patient may have one or another combination of symptoms. Let's consider the common manifestations of intestinal pathologies in more detail.

Pain syndrome

The nature of the onset of pain in diseases of the digestive system can be varied. The symptom can be localized in different parts of the abdomen, have a different character and intensity. When making a diagnosis, it is important to pay attention to the relationship of pain syndrome with food intake or bowel movements.

Pathological processes of the small intestine are characterized by the localization of pain in the navel. It is possible that it will have a pulling character, constantly disturb the patient, only occasionally subsiding and intensifying again. On the contrary, the acute, stabbing nature of the pain syndrome is noted with intestinal spasms, violation of the passage of contents through it.

Colon diseases are less painful. Often, the patient cannot accurately localize it, complains of diffuse soreness on the right or left, depending on the source of concern. After the passage of gases, bowel movement, the severity of the clinical picture decreases. At the same time, food intake does not affect the manifestations of the disease in any way.

Diarrhea

According to modern concepts, the presence of this symptom is said in cases where the frequency of bowel movements is at least four times a day. Diarrhea accompanies any inflammatory bowel processes, regardless of location.

The level of organ damage can be determined by the nature of the feces. If they are abundant, watery, then most likely the cause of the disease is localized in the small intestine. At the same time, particles of undigested food, foam and other impurities may be present in the stool.

Colon disease is less likely to be accompanied by diarrhea. Usually this symptom is determined only during exacerbations. At the same time, it differs in a small amount of feces, but the presence of such pathological impurities as mucus or blood is possible.

Constipation

The opposite situation, when there is no bowel movement for several days, is more typical for diseases of the colon. The occurrence of this symptom is possible in cases where the pathological process is due to functional disorders of the intestine (for example, in the case of irritable bowel syndrome).

Important! The appearance of constipation does not always indicate the presence of bowel disease. Quite often, they are associated with poor nutrition. Increased bowel movements and a change in the nature of the stool can occur with the use of a large number of laxatives foods, foods rich in fiber, milk, etc. Sometimes this condition develops with disorders of the endocrine and nervous systems.

Flatulence

Many pathological conditions in which the colon or small intestine are affected are accompanied by flatulence. This symptom is characterized by increased gas production, bloating. The reason for it is often a violation of the digestion of food, which is why fermentation processes occur in the intestines.

In women, flatulence often occurs with diseases of the biliary tract, when a sufficient amount of digestive enzymes does not enter the duodenum. Irritable bowel syndrome is a common cause of functional bloating in patients. At the same time, there is an increase in symptoms in the evening hours. But at night, the manifestations of the disease disappear.

Disruption of metabolic processes

With the development of malabsorption syndrome, when the process of absorption of nutrients and vitamins is disrupted, the patients develop signs of metabolic disorders. Usually they are manifested by a decrease in body weight, dry skin, minor hemorrhages, cracks in the corners of the mouth.

Important! In women, this syndrome can be manifested by a change in the duration of the menstrual cycle, a decrease in the volume of blood loss during menstruation. In this case, a violation of reproductive function is also possible, such patients cannot become pregnant.

The most common bowel pathologies in women

Irritable bowel syndrome

According to statistics, female patients most often have functional disorders of the digestive system. Irritable bowel syndrome is the most important among them. A characteristic feature of IBS is the variety of manifestations, as well as the absence of inflammatory changes in the digestive system.

Etiology

The reasons for the development of the disorder are not exactly known. The onset of IBS is associated with emotional stress and unhealthy eating habits. An important role is also played by the patient's predisposition and the state of the intestinal microflora.

Symptoms

IBS can manifest itself as follows:

• increased motility of the large intestine - this leads to diarrhea;
• its oppression, as a result of which constipation occurs;
• in some cases, alternation of these two pathological conditions is possible.

Important! The presence of irritable bowel syndrome can significantly reduce the patient's quality of life. This is especially true in the case of chronic diarrhea.

Unlike inflammatory bowel disease, abdominal discomfort disappears after a bowel movement. Another important feature of diarrheal syndrome in IBS is that it usually appears in the morning immediately after breakfast. An increase in the severity of clinical manifestations is also noted after psychoemotional experiences.

Treatment

Therapy for IBS is long-term and requires a significant change in lifestyle from the patient. Diet correction is necessary, consultation with a psychotherapist. In cases of the psychogenic nature of the disease, sedatives are prescribed.

Dysbacteriosis

Another common intestinal pathology in women is dysbiosis. This condition is associated with a change in the normal microflora of the digestive tract, which leads to the growth of unwanted microbes. Like IBS, this disease is rarely diagnosed and treated, as many patients simply do not go to the doctor with this problem.

Causes

Dysbacteriosis is not considered an independent disease. More often it is considered as a syndrome associated with other pathologies of the digestive and other systems. It can occur with the development of allergic reactions, immunodeficiency, vitamin deficiency, intoxication and other pathologies. However, in most cases, dysbiosis is the result of improper use of antibacterial agents, non-compliance with the recommended dosage and duration of antibiotic use.

Symptoms

The imbalance of microflora is manifested by a variety of nonspecific symptoms. Most often, patients complain:

• for the presence of diarrhea, bloating;
• quite often appetite decreases, body weight decreases, unpleasant taste sensations arise in the oral cavity.

With a prolonged course, manifestations of neurological disorders join. Patients become irritable, their performance decreases, headaches appear, sleep is disturbed.

Treatment

First of all, it is necessary to influence the cause of the disease, to correct the pathology that caused the dysbiosis. To restore normal microflora, probiotics are prescribed, for example, Bifiform or Linex.

Video: Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Disease of young women

Inflammatory bowel disease

Among all intestinal pathologies that can disturb women, inflammatory diseases also occupy an important place. They are classified according to the level of intestinal lesions (enteritis, colitis, enterocolitis), as well as along the course (acute and chronic).

Enteritis

This term is called a large group of pathologies that are associated with the presence of inflammation in the small intestine. Often, enteritis develops along with other inflammatory processes of the digestive system - often doctors make diagnoses such as enterocolitis, gastroenteritis, etc.

Etiology

The disease can occur in the form of an acute and chronic process. The first usually occurs due to food poisoning, acute infectious diseases - salmonellosis, cholera, etc. Perhaps also the appearance of signs of enteritis when eating a large number of products that irritate the mucous membrane (spicy foods, alcohol).

Chronic enteritis is often the result of insufficiently effective treatment of the acute form of the disease. In some cases, it develops in the presence of chronic gastritis and other inflammatory pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms

Acute enteritis begins with the onset of the following symptoms:

• diarrhea;
• pain around the navel;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea and vomiting.

Over time, it is possible to attach common signs:

• temperature rise;
• neurological symptoms;
• sweating;
• weakness.

In severe cases, diarrhea may appear up to 15 times a day. The stool is liquid with inclusions of insufficiently digested food, gas bubbles. If the patient is without treatment for a long time, there are signs of general exhaustion, malabsorption syndrome. A general deterioration in well-being, the presence of symptoms of hypovitaminosis is also characteristic.

The chronic form of enteritis is characterized by a lesser severity of symptoms, a prolonged course, alternating periods of remission and exacerbations. With timely treatment of acute pathology, recovery occurs rather quickly.

Treatment

Enteritis therapy depends on the cause of the disease. If the pathology is associated with an infectious process, antibiotic therapy is necessary (for example, Ciprofloxacin), after which the intake of probiotics is prescribed to restore normal intestinal microflora.

If the disease is caused by other reasons, for example, irritation of the mucous membrane with certain types of food, you must adhere to a sparing diet. In cases where enteritis develops as a complication of other inflammatory bowel pathologies, complex therapy is carried out, which is aimed at eliminating the original source of inflammation.

Colitis

Inflammation in the colon can be a separate pathology or a complication of other bowel diseases. Most often, the cause is associated with dysentery or other infection. In some cases, colitis can develop with food poisoning, a violation of the diet, and the use of spicy foods.

Chronic colitis can be a consequence of other inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, non-compliance with a healthy diet.

Symptoms

Signs of acute colitis:

• sharp pains;
• diarrhea - loose stools with mucus;
• deterioration in general health, malaise;
• fever, fever.

The manifestations of chronic colitis are less pronounced in comparison with the acute form of the disease. During exacerbations, aching abdominal pains, flatulence, diarrhea occur. With a prolonged course, the patient's body weight decreases, menstruation disorders and the development of infertility are possible.

Treatment

Therapy for colitis does not differ from that shown for enteritis. It is important to determine the true cause of the disease in order to choose the most effective drug.

Video - Symptoms and treatment of ulcerative colitis of the intestine

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

These two pathologies have much in common and are associated with autoimmune inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. The differences between these two pathologies are presented in the following table.

Characteristic	Crohn's disease	Ulcerative colitis
The extent of the defeat	The entire digestive tract	Colon only
The likelihood of fistula formation	High	Low
Inflammatory process in the intestinal wall	The entire thickness of the intestinal wall is affected	Only the mucous membrane
Bleeding	Infrequently	Often
Ulceration of the rectum	Often	Rarely

Important! With a long illness, the intestinal walls ulcerate and scar. This leads to a narrowing of their lumen, a decrease in motor skills. Therefore, patients who do not receive the required treatment in a timely manner are likely to develop intestinal obstruction.

Symptoms

Both pathologies proceed chronically with alternating exacerbations and remissions. In the acute period, detailed symptoms appear:

• abdominal pain;
• diarrhea;
• nausea;
• indigestion.

General malaise develops, decreased performance. With exacerbations, the temperature rises, a rash appears on the skin. Joint pain is also possible.

Treatment

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are treated by a gastroenterologist. The most effective treatment for these pathologies is Sulfasalazine. It is taken orally for life or given rectally.

Bowel diseases are usually characterized by low specificity of symptoms. Therefore, if signs of digestive disorders appear, you must consult a doctor and undergo the required examination. This will help establish a diagnosis and begin the correct treatment.

Video - Bowel diseases: causes, pathogenesis, symptoms