A woman presenting with intermittent lower abdominal pain and relief with defecation is most likely suffering from which condition?

Intermittent lower abdominal pain that is relieved by defecation is a classic symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This functional gastrointestinal disorder is characterized by a group of symptoms that typically include abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation, and discomfort that is often linked to the timing of bowel movements.

In IBS, the pain often occurs in conjunction with episodes of altered bowel function, and many patients experience relief after passing stool, which distinguishes it from other gastrointestinal conditions. The symptom pattern reflects the dysfunction of bowel motility and sensitivity, common in IBS, as stress and dietary factors can also play a significant role in its presentation.

In contrast, the other conditions listed generally involve different symptom profiles:

• Colon cancer may present with progressive and persistent changes, typically more severe symptoms, and may include alterations in stool caliber or blood in the stool.
• Cholecystitis typically causes right upper quadrant pain and can be associated with nausea, vomiting, and fever, rather than lower abdominal pain.
• Inflammatory bowel disease presents with constant or severe pain accompanied by bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and systemic symptoms like fever, which are more systemic in nature compared to the periodic relief seen in IBS.

Thus, the symptom pattern of