Find out if SIBO is behind your bloating — from home.
If you deal with persistent bloating, gas, or unpredictable digestion, you've probably come across the term SIBO — small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It's one of the most discussed topics in gut health, and one of the few with a specific, non-invasive test: the breath test, which can be done entirely at home. This site explains what SIBO is, how breath testing works, and how to prepare so your results are actually usable.
The short version
What SIBO is
When bacteria overgrow in the small intestine — a part of the gut that normally holds relatively few — fermentation happens in the wrong place.
Read moreHow the test works
You drink a test solution and collect timed breath samples; a lab measures the gases bacteria produce.
Read moreWhy prep matters
A prep diet and an overnight fast come first. Skipping the prep is the most common reason tests come back uninterpretable.
Why a breath test?
The small intestine is hard to reach directly — it sits beyond the stomach, before the colon. Breath testing works around that: when bacteria in the small intestine ferment a test sugar, they produce hydrogen or methane, gases your body doesn't make on its own. Those gases absorb into your bloodstream and leave through your lungs, where timed breath samples can measure them. The pattern of gas over time is what a practitioner reads.
Frequently asked questions
- What are common symptoms associated with SIBO?
- People with SIBO commonly report bloating — often worsening through the day — excess gas, abdominal discomfort, and changes in bowel habits. These symptoms overlap with many other digestive conditions, which is exactly why testing exists.
- Can you test for SIBO at home?
- Yes. At-home SIBO breath test kits let you complete the prep, drink the test solution, and collect timed breath samples at home, then mail them to a laboratory for analysis.
- Is the SIBO breath test hard to do?
- The collection itself is simple — breathing into tubes on a schedule. The part that requires care is the preparation: a restricted diet the day before and an overnight fast, following your kit's instructions exactly.
- Who should consider SIBO testing?
- That's a conversation for your healthcare provider — typically it comes up when digestive symptoms persist and other explanations have been considered.
At-home SIBO testing is coming to this site.
Join the waitlist and you'll be the first to know when kits are available — plus get our free prep guide so you're ready to test correctly on day one.
This site is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have digestive symptoms, talk with your healthcare provider about whether testing is right for you.