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.