30th April 2024

A 30-year-old female presents to the clinic with a 6-month history of recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits.

A 30-year-old female presents to the clinic with a 6-month history of recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Her symptoms include periods of diarrhoea and constipation, often triggered by stress. She denies any recent weight loss, rectal bleeding, nocturnal symptoms, or family history of gastrointestinal cancers or inflammatory bowel disease. Physical examination, including abdominal and rectal examinations, is unremarkable.

Which investigation is most appropriate to support the diagnosis of IBS?