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This newfound cascade of events may explain some female gut pain

A study in mice hints of new avenues for treating conditions like irritable bowel syndrome

A woman lies on her side on a couch, holding her stomach. She has a look of discomfort on her face.

Painful chronic gut conditions like irritable bowel syndrome are more common in women. A new study shows how estrogen can sensitize some cells, passing on a signal to others to produce painful surges of serotonin.

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By Bethany Brookshire

Women of reproductive age are more likely than other people to report gut problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and can feel dismissed by doctors, as clinicians often put the pain down to diet, stress or hormones.