Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a term used to describe recurrent abdominal discomfort that is associated with a change in stool frequency or appearance when it begins.  The discomfort may also improve with a bowel movement.  Individuals with IBS can experience associated bloating, gurgling of the gut, feeling of incompletely evacuating after a bowel movement, or the passage of mucus in the stool.  Unsubtyped IBS (IBS-U) is a specific type of IBS in which the stool consistency does not meet the criteria for IBS-C, D, or M. There is loose watery stool and hard stool occurring each less than 25% of the time.  IBS-U can be caused by problems with motility through the GI tract, increased sensitivity to GI sensations, altered bacteria within the bowel, and poor regulation of the brain-gut connection.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome