Irritable bowel syndrome in women undergoing hysterectomy and tubular ligation

AIM The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome in women undergoing hysterectomy and tubular ligation. BACKGROUND The results of previous studies have shown an increased incidence of irritable bowel syndrome after gynecological surgeries. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants were patients of Alzahra and Taleghani University hospitals in Tabriz. One hundred and seventy two women without gastrointestinal symptoms or a diagnosis of the irritable bowel syndrome underwent tubular ligation and 164 women underwent hysterectomy. Patients were assessed every 3 month after hysterectomy and tubular ligation for 12 months. Irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed by a questionnaire based on Rome II criteria. RESULTS During 12 months after surgeries, 19 (11%) patients in tubular ligation group and 19 (11%) in hysterectomy group had abdominal pain with at least two symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed in 9 (5%) patients in the tubular ligation and 13 (8%) patients in hysterectomy groups (P>0.05). In both studied groups, the most prevalent symptoms along with abdominal pain were chronic constipation and abnormal bowel movement and the least prevalent were diarrhea and passage of mucus. CONCLUSION These results suggest that gynecological surgeries (tubular ligation and hysterectomy) may predispose to the development of the irritable bowel syndrome.