Could This IBS Diet Finally Be the Answer to Endometriosis Pain?

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Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Digestive discomfort affects millions of people worldwide, often leading to bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel movements. For many, the culprit may be FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) a group of fermentable carbohydrates that can trigger digestive symptoms, particularly in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A low-FODMAP diet is primarily recommended for individuals who have been diagnosed with IBS by a medical professional.

A dietary plan low in FODMAPs, originally created by Monash University researchers to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), has now been found to ease digestive symptoms in women suffering from endometriosis.

In the study, 60 percent of participants reported positive results from following the Low FODMAP Diet (LFD), in contrast to just 26 percent who saw improvements on a control diet aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

Most individuals on the LFD experienced a marked reduction in digestive discomfort, with overall symptom intensity nearly 40 percent lower than those on the standard diet.

The findings, appeared in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, revealed that the LFD also helped relieve abdominal discomfort and bloating, while promoting more regular and consistent bowel movements.

Dr Jane Varney, a Senior Research Dietitian at Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, and Alfred Health, stated that this study was the first to demonstrate that the Low FODMAP Diet can lessen the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in women with endometriosis.

According to Dr Varney, over 75 percent of women diagnosed with endometriosis experience digestive issues similar to those seen in individuals with IBS. She noted that although many of these women try to adjust their eating habits to ease their symptoms, there has previously been little scientific support for any specific dietary strategy.

Dr Varney reported that sixty percent of participants who followed the Low FODMAP Diet experienced meaningful relief from their gastrointestinal symptoms.

“Abdominal pain and bloating improved, stool form normalised and quality of life improved. Given the high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms among women with endometriosis, and the absence of targeted treatments, this study highlights a diet therapy that will bring symptom relief to many women.”

Pioneered in the mid-2000s, the Low FODMAP Diet developed by Monash University transformed the way irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is managed. A team of Monash dietitians, researchers, and gastroenterologists validated the diet’s benefits, later launching the FODMAP Diet App in 2012 and publishing a cookbook in 2023.

The study included 35 women over the age of 18 who had been diagnosed with endometriosis and experienced digestive issues such as abdominal discomfort, bloating, irregular bowel movements, and pain during or after defecation.

Participants first consumed their normal diet for one week, then were randomly assigned to follow one of two diets for 28 days—both provided by the research team. Each diet adhered to the Australian Healthy Eating Guidelines, but only one was low in FODMAPs. After a 28-day return to their regular diet, participants switched to the other diet. The two meal plans were carefully designed to be equal in macronutrients, micronutrients, and fibre, differing only in their FODMAP content.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Rebecca Burgell, Head of the Functional Gut Service at Alfred Health and Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine, noted that while gastrointestinal symptoms are common in people with endometriosis, few therapies directly address them—and some may even worsen the condition.

 

“Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with endometriosis are largely ignored in clinical guidelines,” explained Associate Professor Burgell. “Most endometriosis guidelines fail to mention gastrointestinal symptoms and none offer advice about identification or management. Nor do IBS guidelines mention screening for endometriosis.”

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