Some of the most frequently asked questions about spastic colon or irritable bowel syndrome (IB) is does it affect pregnancy? Does the opposite occur – in other words does pregnancy also affect or even cause an increased risk of developing spastic colon? Well … This syndrome is actually not a disease. Doctors often call it as a group of symptoms (particularly symptoms associated with digestive system).
The top leading symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome are abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating. These symptoms typically improve after a bowel movement. They are also closely associated with changes of bowel habits.
Does IBS affect pregnancy?
While many experts have acknowledged that changes of pregnancy hormone can give an impact on irritable bowel syndrome, unfortunately there is still no consensus (clearly answer) as to what that impact will be! The drastically hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy often lead to gastrointestinal distress – both for those with and without IBS.
While some women patients with spastic colon report that the symptoms get worse during pregnancy, others don’t. In other words, the spastic colon may vary from patient to patient. If you have this syndrome, generally predicting whether your symptoms will improve or worsen when you are being pregnant is a bit of crapshoot.
Overall, the inconstancy of spastic colon symptoms is not uncommon during pregnancy. This may also vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. If you are pregnant for the second time, the inconstancy of your IBS symptoms may also be different to the first pregnancy.
In addition, most patients also report that the symptoms often worsen during menstrual periods. For this issue, read more detailed information on this section!
Does spastic colon increase the risk of pregnancy complications?
Some women report that they have common symptoms of IBS and then they may think that they have it. If you are still not diagnosed with this syndrome and you wonder whether or not you have it, consult more with a doctor or gastroenterologist for more advice and a clearly diagnosis.
The issue of pregnancy complications due to IBS is unclear. Though some studies suggest that pregnant women with spastic colon may be at high risk of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, but there is still no adequate scientific evidence to confirm this issue – more research is needed!
Can pregnancy cause an increased risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome?
It’s clear that women are twice as likely to have this syndrome. Many statistics record that most patients of this syndrome is not men – but women. While pregnancy can set off a spastic colon in some patients, but experts have confirmed that it does not cause or increase the risk of developing IBS.
The exact cause of this syndrome is also still not known. But you can find some theories about it. And the wrong way of signals sent from the brain to the gut may be the most relevant answer to explain the cause of spastic colon.
Moreover, some experts believe that IBS runs in families. In other words, if you have a family history of spastic colon, your risk of having the same condition is higher than others without a family history of this syndrome.
Can irritable bowel syndrome affect getting pregnant?
The answer is ‘No’, and experts have confirmed this issue! There is no directly link for spastic colon and a woman’s reproductive organs to affect each other.
The bowel symptoms of this syndrome are the result of dysfunction or problem within the digestive system itself. And typically, there is no chance for them to go or affect any nearby organs, including your reproductive organs. Therefore, generally any pain that you have due to spastic colon will not affect the way of your reproductive system to work.
But if you in-doubt whether your pain is due to IBS or other health conditions, consult more with your GP /doctor to find a clearly answer. Some reproductive health conditions that also can cause abdominal pain are endometriosis, PID /pelvic inflammatory disease, and blockade fallopian tubes.
Treatment options for pregnant women with IBS
Having spastic colon doesn’t mean you need to avoid pregnancy. If you completely understand about this syndrome, you should not worry about it. Basically, once again it is not a disease and not a serious condition.
Though it is chronic and incurable, but it can be managed with the right strategies! As long as you manage it as well, you are less likely to experience pregnancy complications due to this syndrome. Furthermore, it doesn’t cause serious damage or serious inflammation to tracts of the intestines. It also doesn’t increase the risk of other serious diseases (such as cancer).
Still, you need to keep alert to any symptoms that you feel. For instance, if you experience symptoms related to the digestive system but they are not linked to a change of your bowel habits and also don’t improve after a bowel movement – see a doctor promptly for more advice!
In general, the goal of the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome during pregnancy is to eliminate the risk of the symptoms to flare up. There is no special step you need to follow. Conservative treatment is still the primary choice, which includes moderate exercise, stress management, stress-relief therapy (such as yoga and deep breathing exercise), and appropriate diet (particularly to avoid specific foods that trigger the symptoms). But your doctor may also need to prescribe certain drugs if necessary!
