Diagnosing IBS: What to Expect at Your Appointment

IBS — or irritable bowel syndrome — is one of the most common conditions in the world, yet doctors and patients alike are still confounded by what causes it and the best way to manage it. Ultimately, it’s only definition is its symptoms.

“IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, so in order to label somebody as having IBS, you have to rule out other organic causes of their symptoms,” says Benjamin Cohen, MD, gastroenterologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Only after you’ve shown that it’s not any of those things can you say that the symptoms are irritable bowel syndrome.”

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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