Some conditions you just don’t want to talk about; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is among them. IBS is an uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) disorder of the large intestine—also called the colon—that causes a plethora of uncomfortable and embarrassing signs and symptoms, from bloating and gas to constipation and diarrhea. Fortunately, these can be managed, and few people with the condition have symptoms that are severe or disabling.