IBS With Constipation (IBS-C)
IBS-C is characterized by the following stool characteristics:
Hard stools more than 25% of the time and loose stools less than 25% of the time
Up to 33% of cases
More common in women
Approximately 25% of people with IBS-C reported abdominal pain, straining, infrequent stools, bloating and/or gas as their most bothersome symptoms. Gas, bloating, and abdominal pain were reported by constipation sufferers as occurring on average of over 200 times a yea
IBS With Diarrhea (IBS-D)
IBS-D is characterized by the following stool characteristics:
Loose stools more than 25% of the time and hard stools less than 25% of the time
Up to 33% of cases
More common in men
The most bothersome IBS symptom reported by 43% of IBS-D sufferers were abdominal pain or discomfort, while 37% reported sudden urges to have bowel movements. People with IBS-D experience symptoms of gas and frequent stools over 200 times a year.
IBS With Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea (IBS-M)
About 33% of people with IBS categorize themselves as having IBS-M3
IBS-M is characterized by the following stool characteristics:
Both hard and soft stools more than 25% of the time
Up to 33% to 50% of cases
This type of IBS can be used to describe people’s IBS symptoms at a specific point in time, but in reality their bowel habits often vary over time. For this reason, some clinicians may prefer to use the term alternating IBS (IBS-A) in place of IBS-M.