Patterns of mean (A) gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (constipation, diarrhea, alternating) and (B) abdominal pain alone (constipation, diarrhea, alternating) in Rome II subgroups across 6 menstrual cycle phases in women with and without irritable bowel syndrome. The definitions of Rome II subgroups are based on 3 symptoms of constipation (hard stools, <3 stools/wk, straining) and diarrhea (loose or watery stools, >3 stools/d, urgency).17 Follic = follicular phase; Pre-Ovul = preovulatory phase; Early-Lut = early-luteal phase; Mid-Lut = midluteal phase; Pre-Mens = premenses phase. Adapted with permission.18