Women and Gastroparesis
August 17, 2021
Gastroparesis is a mysterious stomach disorder that's on the rise in teenage girls and women in their 20s. Also known as delayed gastric emptying, gastroparesis occurs when the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine is greatly slowed or stopped.
The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, feeling full and bloating.
According to Bryan Curtin, M.D., MHSc, board certified gastroenterologist and Director of The Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy, there's no great explanation as to why someone develops this chronic condition.
"It's not something we can fix or reverse. We can only manage it with things like diet and medications, some procedures," Dr. Curtin said.
The average time from first experiencing symptoms until proper diagnosis is over two years.
To view Mercy gastroenterologist Dr. Bryan Curtin’s interview regarding women and gastroparesis, click here.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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