Male Hormone Related

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Table of Contents
Lower Prevalence Of IBS In Men
Hormones And IBS In Men
Further Reading And References

Lower Prevalence Of IBS In Men

There are many more studies into the effects of female hormones on IBS in women, compared to the effects of male hormones on IBS in men. (1) Androgens in males have been reported to have a protective effect against the development of chronic pain disorders such as IBS in men. In experimental pain models, testosterone has been shown to have an analgesic effect. (2) This could explain why there is a higher prevalence of IBS in females than in males and why women report pain associated with IBS more than men. (5)

Although there seems to be more women with IBS than men, it is unclear whether this is due to more women visiting their doctors with their symptoms than men. (7)

Hormones And IBS In Men

In a study reported in 2008, 38 young males with IBS were compared to 20 healthy men. All had blood tests for serum testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. The IBS patients had higher levels of testosterone and SHBG than the healthy subjects. However, there was no difference in these markers between the IBS patients who suffered from IBS-D and IBS-C. (3)

Conversely, in an animal model, reduced androgen levels were linked to irritable bowel syndrome and caused bowel dysfunction in mice including compromised gastrointestinal transit. (4)

Interestingly, men are more likely to report symptoms of IBS-D than women. (6)

A study showed that men with IBS have lower levels of luteinizing hormone compared to men without IBS (7) (8) and those with higher testosterone levels reported less pain with their IBS. (7) (8)

Lower Prevalence Of IBS In Men

Hormones And IBS In Men

Further Reading And References

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