Functional gastrointestinal symptoms are identified in up to 30% of patients two thirds of whom are women. Therefore any physician who cares for women must be aware of the scope and impact of these conditions. As gynecologists we are most likely to see those gastrointestinal conditions that have an indolent or chronic course or those with vague non-specific symptoms. In adolescents gastrointestinal disease may be mistaken for gynecologic conditions and the processes of menarche may cloud the identification of primarily gastrointestinal disease. Even sexual abuse may present as vague abdominal or gastrointestinal complaints. A moderate familiarity with these conditions combined with a high degree of suspicion is required if we are to correctly diagnose and treat these complaints in our adolescent patients. (excerpt)