Home
About IFFGD
GI Disorders
Publications
Research
Membership
Events Calendar
Make a Donation
Links
Glossary

Site Map
Contact IFFGD

Call IFFGD
Toll Free at
1-888-964-2001

Visit these IFFGD
web sites:
aboutGERD.org
aboutIBS.org
aboutIncontinence.org
aboutKidsGI.org

Gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders

A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works) rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. It characterizes a disorder that generally can not be diagnosed in a traditional way; that is, as an inflammatory, infectious, or structural abnormality that can be seen by commonly used examination, x-ray, or laboratory test.

Gastrointestinal motility is defined by the movements of the digestive system, and the transit of the contents within it. When nerves or muscles in any portion of the digestive tract do not function in a strong coordinated fashion, a person develops symptoms related to motility problems. These symptoms may range from heartburn to constipation. Other symptoms may also include abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect millions of people of all ages—men, women, and children. They are the most commonly presented gastrointestinal illnesses seen by physicians in primary care or gastroenterology. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia are the most common functional GI disorders. IBS alone affects 10% to 20% of adults. A functional disorder does not show any evidence of an organic or physical disease, and the cause of a functional GI disorder doesn't show up in a blood test or an x-ray. The disorders are diagnosed based on symptoms, and often require tests to rule out the likelihood of another disease.

The social and economic costs of gastrointestinal disorders are enormous. The symptoms of these disorders can cause discomfort, ranging from inconvenience to deep personal distress. For those with severe symptoms the disorders can be debilitating, leaving them unable to fully participate in life and work.

Much remains unknown about these disorders, resulting in a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding, among patients and physicians alike. This lack of understanding can lead to misdiagnosis and misguided treatment. For example, data reveals that women with IBS have an increased risk of unnecessary surgery; hysterectomy or ovarian surgery is performed more often in the IBS patient than in comparison groups.(1) This is a major women's health issue.

There is a pressing need to support more research. Gastrointestinal disorder research remains severely underfunded. Less than 1% of digestive disease research funding, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is allocated for functional disorders.

Become a member of IFFGD and join the fight to improve diagnostic and treatment options. If you would like to support the mission of IFFGD with additional funding, please consider making a charitable, planned gift. Your support, at any level, helps ensure the continuation of our efforts to focus much needed research and clinical attention on improving the quality of life for people affected by functional GI disorders. Thank you.

Glossary of terms

(1) Longstreth GF, "Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Multibillion-Dollar Problem." Gastroenterology, 1995;109:2029-2042.