ABSTRACT
Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is a common functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and change in bowel movement. On the other hand, preterm labor [PL] is currently one of the most important problems in maternal-child health. The major causes of IBS are yet to be recognized, however some shared factors with PL have been proposed. It is probable that IBS patients are susceptible to have preterm labor. The goal of this study is the evaluation of IBS frequency in preterm labor. In a case-control study, 150 patients with PL [case group] were compared with 150 people with term labor [control group] for the presence of IBS. The Rome II criteria were employed to diagnose IBS. The subgroups of the diarrhea-predominant and the constipation-predominant of IBS were determined as well. A total of 36 IBS patients were diagnosed in which 21[14.7%] were in the case group and 14 [9.3%] were in the control group [p=0.155]. The diarrhea-predominant type was recognized in 3 patients, all in the case group [p=0.247]. The constipation-predominant type was recognized in 11 patients, 9 cases in the case group [p=0.032]