Fibromyalgia syndrome in women

Many more women than men experience the chronically fatiguing condition of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a growing diagnosis in the United States. Estimates are that upwards of 2% to 6% of adults have been diagnosed with FMS, and at high societal costs. In this article, common manifestations are described to guide assessment and various lines of research are explored as a basis for understanding contributing factors and potential treatments for FMS and other chronic disorders, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and the effectiveness of current treatment options.