What this tool is for

Tummy trouble is frustrating because the same symptom can point to very different things. Bloating after meals, cramping that wakes you at night, loose stools for a week, a dull ache that comes and goes, all of these have their own likely causes and their own reasons to see a GP sooner rather than later. This tool helps you make sense of what you are feeling and work out what to do next.

It is not a diagnosis and it does not replace a proper medical assessment. Think of it as a sensible first look that points you in the right direction.

Who it is aimed at

Use it if you have been putting up with stomach or bowel symptoms and you are not sure whether they are worth bothering a doctor about, or if something has flared up suddenly and you want a steer on how urgent it might be. It covers common complaints like indigestion, reflux, wind, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pain, as well as longer running patterns that might suggest IBS, a food intolerance or something that needs investigating properly.

It is designed for adults in the UK. If the symptoms are in a child, or in someone who is pregnant or already being treated for a gut condition, please speak to a GP, pharmacist or NHS 111 instead of relying on a general tool.

How it works

You answer a short set of questions about your main symptom, how long it has been going on, what seems to trigger it and any other signs you have noticed, such as weight loss, blood, fever or changes in your stool. The tool then gives you a plain English summary of what the pattern could suggest, the self care steps worth trying, and the red flags that mean you should book a GP appointment or seek urgent help. Your answers are used to generate your result and are not saved to a personal record.