IBS Quiz & Symptom Checker

What doctors look for in IBS

IBS is diagnosed from a pattern of symptoms rather than a single test. Under the Rome IV criteria, the core feature is recurrent abdominal pain, on average at least one day a week over the past three months, linked to at least two of the following: pain related to bowel movements, a change in how often you go, or a change in how your stool looks. Symptoms should have started at least six months before diagnosis, and a doctor will usually check for other causes such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

This quick quiz asks 8 questions covering pain frequency, whether pain eases after a bowel movement, your bowel pattern, food links, how long symptoms have lasted, whether other conditions were investigated, stress sensitivity and impact on daily life. It is a simplified screen inspired by that pattern, not the formal diagnostic criteria.

How to read your result

A low match means your answers do not resemble a typical IBS pattern, though persistent symptoms still deserve attention. A moderate match suggests some overlap and is a good reason to start tracking. A high match means your symptoms resemble the IBS pattern closely enough that a conversation with a doctor is worthwhile, especially if other conditions have not been ruled out.

Do not use a high match to skip that conversation. Blood in the stool, unintentional weight loss, symptoms that wake you at night, anemia, persistent vomiting, or a family history of bowel disease or colorectal cancer are "alarm features" that need medical evaluation before anything else.

The next step: find your triggers

For most people with IBS, the most useful step after the quiz is identifying personal food and lifestyle triggers. Because symptoms often show up hours after a meal, a written or app-based log of meals, symptoms and stool form over two to four weeks reveals patterns memory misses. Take your subtype next with the IBS subtype quiz, and use the FODMAP food checker to look up specific foods.

How do I know if I have IBS?

IBS is diagnosed by a clinician based on recurring abdominal pain linked to changes in bowel habits, present for months, after other conditions are excluded. A symptom quiz can show how closely your pattern fits, but it cannot diagnose you.

What are the main symptoms of IBS?

Abdominal pain or cramping that changes with bowel movements, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation or an alternating mix. Many people also report fatigue, nausea and symptoms that worsen with stress or particular foods.

Which symptoms mean it might not be IBS?

Blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, fever, symptoms that wake you at night, iron-deficiency anemia, persistent vomiting, or new symptoms after age 50 are not typical of IBS and should be checked by a doctor promptly.

Can food cause IBS symptoms?

Food does not cause IBS in most people, but it is a common trigger of symptoms. High-FODMAP foods, large fatty meals, caffeine and alcohol are frequent culprits, and individual triggers vary widely, which is why tracking is more useful than a generic avoid list.