Do I Have IBS?
Take this 2 minute Quiz
If you've been dealing with ongoing tummy troubles and you're not sure whether it's IBS, take the quick check below. It walks through the same criteria doctors use (the Rome V criteria), plus a few questions to flag anything that needs your GP's attention first.
Important: this isn't a diagnostic test. Only a GP can diagnose IBS, because it first requires ruling out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. Use this to have a more informed conversation with your GP, not to diagnose yourself or delay seeing a doctor.
What This Check Is Based On
The check above uses the Rome V Diagnostic Criteria, the internationally recognised standard doctors use to consider an IBS diagnosis. In short, it looks at whether you've had recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort at least 3 days a month over the last 3 months, alongside changes related to your bowel motions, how often you go, or what your stool looks like, with symptoms present for 6 months or more overall.
(Note: these criteria were updated in 2026. The current Rome V criteria broadened the definition slightly compared to the older Rome IV version, meaning some people who didn't previously fit the criteria now do. If you've been told in the past that you don't "technically" meet the criteria, it may be worth revisiting this with your GP.)
The check also screens for red flag symptoms, things like blood in your stool, unintentional weight loss, or a sudden change in bowel habit, which need a GP's attention regardless of anything else. If any of these apply to you, please see your GP promptly rather than relying on this program as a first step.
Common IBS Subtypes
IBS isn't one size fits all. Most people fall into one of these patterns:
IBS-C: constipation predominant
IBS-D: diarrhoea predominant
IBS-M: mixed (both constipation and diarrhoea)
IBS-U: unclassified (doesn't fit neatly into the above)
Your subtype can change over time, and it's one of the things we'll clarify together in your Initial Consultation.
2-minute check
Do Your Symptoms Sound Like IBS?
This short check walks you through the same criteria doctors use to consider an IBS diagnosis (the Rome V criteria), plus a few questions to flag anything that needs a GP's attention first.
This isn't a diagnosis — only a GP can diagnose IBS. It's here to help you have a more informed conversation with them.
Question 1 of 4
Over the last 3 months, how often have you had abdominal pain or discomfort?
Question 2 of 4
Does that pain or discomfort tend to…
Select all that apply.
Question 3 of 4
Have you noticed these symptoms for 6 months or more?
They don't need to have been constant — just present, on and off, since around then.
Question 4 of 4
Do any of the following apply to you?
These need a GP's attention regardless of anything else — select all that apply.
Please See Your GP Promptly
One or more of your answers needs proper medical assessment before IBS can be considered. This isn't something to work through on your own, and it isn't something this program is appropriate for as a first step.
Please book to see your GP promptly to discuss these symptoms.
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Your Symptoms Sound Consistent With IBS
Based on your answers, your symptoms align with the current diagnostic criteria for IBS (Rome V). That's a good, informed starting point for a conversation with your GP — only they can confirm a diagnosis.
Next step: book an appointment with your GP, mention these symptoms, and ask about a GP Chronic Disease Management Plan referral to Simplistic Nutrition for structured, fully bulk-billed dietetic support.
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Your Symptoms Don't Fully Match the Current Criteria
That doesn't mean nothing's going on — everyone's experience is different, and some people's symptoms fall outside strict criteria while still needing support. It's still worth raising this with your GP.
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Other Conditions Your GP Will Usually Rule Out First
IBS is what doctors call a "diagnosis of exclusion". Before confirming IBS, your GP will typically check for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. This is usually done with a simple blood test, and sometimes a stool test. It's a normal, standard part of getting properly diagnosed, not a sign that something is necessarily wrong.
Conditions commonly checked for include:
Coeliac disease: checked with a blood test called coeliac serology. Coeliac disease can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits very similar to IBS, but requires a completely different treatment approach (strict, lifelong gluten avoidance) rather than a low FODMAP diet.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis): checked with an inflammatory marker blood test (CRP) and, especially if you have diarrhoea, a stool test called faecal calprotectin. This is a key test in ruling out IBD without needing an invasive colonoscopy in most cases.
Iron deficiency anaemia: checked with a full blood count, since unexplained anaemia can point to bleeding or malabsorption elsewhere in the gut.
Thyroid conditions: checked with a thyroid function test, since an overactive or underactive thyroid can cause bowel symptom changes that look a lot like IBS.
An important note if you haven't been tested yet: if you think you might have coeliac disease, it's important to have the coeliac blood test before starting a Low FODMAP or gluten reduced diet. Cutting back on wheat/gluten beforehand can affect the accuracy of the test. If you're not sure whether you've been tested, this is worth raising with your GP before making any dietary changes.
What to Do Next
If your check result sounds like IBS, and none of the red flags apply: book a conversation with your GP about a diagnosis and a Chronic Disease Management referral for structured dietetic support.
If your check flagged a red flag symptom: please see your GP promptly for further assessment before considering this program.
