How do hormones affect bowel movements during menstruation. What causes period-related stomach issues. How can you ease digestive discomfort associated with your menstrual cycle. Why do some people experience diarrhea or constipation before their period.

The Hormonal Impact on Digestive Health During Menstruation

Many individuals experience digestive disturbances during their menstrual cycle, ranging from mild discomfort to more severe symptoms. These issues are primarily attributed to hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the month. Understanding the relationship between hormones and digestive health can help manage these symptoms more effectively.

Prostaglandins and Increased Bowel Movements

Prostaglandins play a crucial role in menstruation and can significantly impact digestive function. These fatty acids are responsible for relaxing the smooth muscle tissues in the uterus, facilitating the shedding of the uterine lining. However, prostaglandins can also affect the bowels, leading to increased bowel movements and, in some cases, diarrhea.

Dr. Donald Ford, Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, explains, “It makes sense if you think of the cycle. Until ovulation, the uterus is preparing to accept the egg and, once it starts, the opposite happens — it’s cleansing to get ready for the next cycle.”

Progesterone’s Dual Effect on Digestion

Another hormone that influences digestive health during the menstrual cycle is progesterone. This hormone is responsible for the growth and thickening of the uterine walls and reaches its peak just before ovulation. Interestingly, progesterone can have different effects on different individuals:

• Some may experience diarrhea
• Others may face constipation

Dr. Ford notes, “Progesterone typically promotes constipation, which tends to come around ovulation or a couple of days after.”

Common Digestive Symptoms Associated with Menstruation

While some digestive issues are directly related to the gastrointestinal system, others may be mistaken for stomach problems but are actually occurring in the uterus. Here are some common symptoms experienced during menstruation:

• Increased frequency of bowel movements
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Water retention
• Abdominal cramping

For individuals with pre-existing digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease, these symptoms may be more pronounced during menstruation.

Strategies for Managing Period-Related Digestive Issues

While it may not be possible to completely prevent digestive disturbances during menstruation, there are several strategies that can help alleviate symptoms and promote overall digestive health.

Adopting a Clean, Fiber-Rich Diet

A healthy diet is crucial for maintaining regular bowel habits and minimizing digestive discomfort. Dr. Ford recommends, “Eat healthy food and get plenty of natural fiber.” Focus on incorporating the following into your diet:

• Fresh fruits
• Vegetables
• Leafy greens

It’s also advisable to limit junk food consumption, especially during the pre-menstrual period, as it can exacerbate stomach upset and lead to unpleasant symptoms like smelly stool and gas.

Importance of Hydration

Proper hydration is essential, particularly if you experience diarrhea during your menstrual cycle. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, resulting in a loss of water and vital nutrients from your body’s tissues. To combat this:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day
• Avoid or limit coffee intake, as it can have a laxative effect

Medication Options for Symptom Relief

Over-the-counter and prescription medications can provide relief for various menstrual-related digestive symptoms:

• Ibuprofen: Taking ibuprofen just before the start of your period may help prevent the release of prostaglandins, potentially easing both menstrual pain and digestive discomfort.
• Gentle laxatives: For constipation, Dr. Ford suggests using mild laxatives like MiraLAX® or stool softeners as needed.
• Prescription medications: For chronic constipation, medications such as linaclotide or lubiprostone may be prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Always follow dosage instructions carefully and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication regimen.

The Role of Oral Contraceptives in Managing Menstrual Symptoms

For individuals experiencing severe digestive issues related to their menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives may offer a potential solution. These medications can help regulate hormonal fluctuations and reduce the frequency of periods.

How Oral Contraceptives Can Help

Oral contraceptives work by altering the hormonal balance in the body, which can have several benefits for menstrual-related symptoms:

• Reduction in the frequency of periods
• Lighter menstrual flow
• Decreased severity of menstrual cramps
• Potential improvement in digestive symptoms

Dr. Ford explains, “It doesn’t fix the problem, but it makes it happen less frequently.” For those already taking contraceptives, skipping the week of placebo pills may allow for skipping periods altogether, further reducing the occurrence of digestive issues.

Considerations and Consultation

While oral contraceptives can be effective in managing menstrual symptoms, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare provider before starting or changing any hormonal medication. They can help determine if this option is suitable based on your individual health history and needs.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While some level of digestive discomfort during menstruation is common, certain symptoms may warrant medical attention. It’s important to be aware of these signs and know when to consult a healthcare professional.

Red Flags to Watch For

Dr. Ford advises seeking medical attention if you experience:

• Severe cramping with your period
• Pain accompanied by blood in your stool
• Persistent or worsening digestive symptoms
• Significant disruption to your daily life due to menstrual symptoms

These symptoms could indicate underlying health conditions that require proper diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention can help prevent complications and improve overall quality of life.

The Connection Between Existing Digestive Conditions and Menstrual Symptoms

For individuals with pre-existing digestive disorders, menstrual cycles can exacerbate symptoms and pose additional challenges. Understanding this relationship is crucial for effective management and symptom relief.

Impact on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Many individuals with IBS report a worsening of symptoms during their menstrual period. This may be due to:

• Increased sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations
• Heightened gut motility during menstruation
• Stress and anxiety associated with both IBS and menstrual symptoms

Managing IBS symptoms during menstruation may require a combination of dietary adjustments, stress management techniques, and medication as recommended by a healthcare provider.

Menstruation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, may also experience fluctuations in their symptoms during their menstrual cycle. Research suggests that hormonal changes can influence inflammation in the gut, potentially leading to flare-ups or worsening of IBD symptoms.

Strategies for managing IBD during menstruation may include:

• Adhering to prescribed IBD treatment plans
• Communicating with healthcare providers about symptom changes
• Considering hormonal therapies to regulate menstrual cycles
• Implementing stress-reduction techniques

Lifestyle Modifications for Long-Term Digestive Health

While managing acute symptoms is important, implementing long-term lifestyle changes can significantly improve overall digestive health and potentially reduce the severity of menstrual-related digestive issues.

Regular Exercise and Physical Activity

Engaging in regular physical activity can have numerous benefits for digestive health and menstrual symptoms:

• Improved bowel regularity
• Reduced bloating and water retention
• Decreased severity of menstrual cramps
• Enhanced overall well-being and stress reduction

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, incorporating activities such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.

Stress Management Techniques

Stress can significantly impact both digestive health and menstrual symptoms. Implementing stress-reduction techniques can help alleviate these issues:

• Mindfulness meditation
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga or gentle stretching
• Progressive muscle relaxation

Regularly practicing these techniques can help reduce the impact of stress on your body and potentially improve digestive comfort during menstruation.

Sleep Hygiene and Digestive Health

Adequate sleep is crucial for overall health, including digestive function. Poor sleep can exacerbate digestive issues and menstrual symptoms. To improve sleep quality:

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine
• Avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime
• Ensure your sleeping environment is comfortable and conducive to rest

By prioritizing good sleep hygiene, you may experience improvements in both digestive comfort and menstrual symptoms.

Nutritional Strategies for Balancing Hormones and Digestive Health

Diet plays a crucial role in both hormonal balance and digestive health. By focusing on specific nutritional strategies, you may be able to alleviate some of the digestive issues associated with menstruation.

Incorporating Hormone-Balancing Foods

Certain foods have been shown to support hormonal balance, which may help regulate menstrual cycles and reduce associated symptoms:

• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
• Flaxseeds and chia seeds
• Fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids
• Whole grains
• Legumes

These foods provide essential nutrients and compounds that support hormone production and metabolism.

Probiotics and Gut Health

Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can contribute to better digestive function and potentially reduce menstrual-related digestive issues. Consider incorporating probiotic-rich foods into your diet:

• Yogurt with live cultures
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Kombucha

Additionally, consuming prebiotic foods like garlic, onions, and bananas can help support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

Mindful Eating Practices

Adopting mindful eating habits can improve digestion and reduce discomfort, especially during menstruation:

• Eat slowly and chew food thoroughly
• Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues
• Avoid distractions while eating
• Choose smaller, more frequent meals if large meals cause discomfort

By implementing these nutritional strategies and mindful eating practices, you may experience improvements in both digestive comfort and overall menstrual health.

Why Do They Happen? – Cleveland Clinic

It’s that time of the month, and with it come a few side effects that you could do without: constipation, bloating, diarrhea… maybe even all of the above.

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Many people have mild, manageable digestive distress related to their menstrual cycle. For others, it’s more severe.

Regardless of your symptoms, family medicine physician Donald Ford, MD, MBA, Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, shares steps you can take to manage period poops and other cycle-related stomach issues.

Why do you poop more on your period?

Blame it on hormones. Each month, just before your period begins, fatty acids known as prostaglandins begin to relax the smooth muscle tissues inside your uterus to help it shed its lining.

But those same prostaglandins can have a similar impact on your bowels, leading to — you guessed it — more poop, and even diarrhea.

“It makes sense if you think of the cycle,” Dr. Ford says. “Until ovulation, the uterus is preparing to accept the egg and, once it starts, the opposite happens — it’s cleansing to get ready for the next cycle.”

For people with existing digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease, period-related poop problems may be more severe.

You might be constipated between periods, too

Another period-related hormone, progesterone, can cause diarrhea in some people and constipation in others.

Progesterone is responsible for the growth and thickening of the uterine walls, and it peaks right before ovulation. A buildup of the hormone can cause bowel issues.

“Progesterone typically promotes constipation, which tends to come around ovulation or a couple of days after,” he says.

Other period-related stomach issues

Some of the other abdominal symptoms you experience around your period aren’t related to your digestive system at all. During menstruation, the hormones that your body releases hormones can cause:

• Bloating.
• Water retention.
• Abdominal cramping.

“While these symptoms may feel like they’re taking place in your stomach, they’re actually happening in the uterus,” Dr. Ford explains.

How to ease period poop problems

Hormones happen, and no matter what you do, you probably can’t prevent a little bit of stomach trouble related to your periods. But you can take steps to lessen them and to take care of your tummy.

1. Eat a clean diet

The first line of defense for digestive issues is a healthy diet.

“Eat healthy food and get plenty of natural fiber,” Dr. Ford says. “Some people also take fiber supplements, but there’s some controversy over whether or not those are effective.”

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens to maintain regular bowel habits. And try not to indulge those pre-period junk food cravings, which can further your upset stomach and cause extra-smelly stool and gas.

2. Stay hydrated

Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, a loss of water and nutrients from your body’s tissues — which can become a serious problem if left unaddressed.

If you’re prone to loose stool come that time of the month, stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. And avoid coffee, if you can, which has a laxative effect that you just don’t need right now.

3. Try medication

Taking ibuprofen right before the start of your period may prevent the release of prostaglandins, thus easing the pain of your period and your period poops. Just be sure to carefully follow the dosage instructions.

For constipation, Dr. Ford recommends taking a gentle brand like MiraLAX® or stool softeners to relieve constipation as needed. If your constipation is chronic, prescription medications such as linaclotide or lubiprostone may offer an effective solution.

4. Consider oral contraceptives

If your digestive issues become debilitating, your doctor may recommend oral contraceptives that reduce the frequency of your periods. If you’re already taking contraceptives, one option is to skip periods by skipping the week of placebos.

“It doesn’t fix the problem, but it makes it happen less frequently,” Dr. Ford says.

It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have major symptoms like severe cramping with your period, he says. Also, if you ever have pain accompanied by blood in your stool, see your physician as soon as possible to rule out more serious problems.

What Are Common Period Problems?

From the outside, periods can sound amazing. You’re born with hundreds of thousands of eggs. After puberty, a gland in your brain sends a monthly message that says, “Hey! Release an egg!” to your ovaries. The process happens about 450 times over your lifetime.

From the inside, periods don’t feel as awesome. For a few days every month, you can feel like a different person, both physically and emotionally. And not in a good way.

Don’t let those days derail your life. You can still do everything that you would during the rest of the month, if you know how to manage the baggage your monthly visitor may bring.

Blood Loss and Clots

Though it can vary from month to month, periods usually start off with a light flow, get heavier, then taper off.

On average, women lose about 2 to 4 tablespoons of blood during each period. In terms of pads or tampons, that means changing them out every 2 hours or more. If you need to change out less than every 2 hours — or have quarter-size or larger clots — let your doctor know.

Small clots of blood are common. Your body releases anticoagulants to keep the blood from clotting as it moves through your vagina. But on days when you’re bleeding or cramping heavily, it may not be released in time.

Cramping

To get the blood out of your uterus, the muscles tighten and relax. That’s the sharp ache you feel between your stomach and lower back.

Cramps can start before your period and last throughout the bleeding process. If they feel mild, like someone’s giving your ovaries a solid squeeze, it’s normal. Try an over-the-counter medication for pain relief. If they take your breath away or have you doubled over in pain, check in with your doctor.

Moodiness

You love everybody. You can’t stand anybody. All at the same time. Hello hormones.

Before and during your period, hormones are hard at work moving your body through each phase. When those hormones rise and fall, so does your mood.

During PMS and your period, expect to feel everything from crabbiness and anger to feeling more anxious or down than normal.

You can’t avoid the mood swings that come with your period, but it does help to get good sleep, stay active, and steer clear of caffeine and unhealthy foods to keep the lows from feeling too low. These choices can also cut down on breast tenderness, acne, bloating, and food cravings that come with the menstrual cycle.

Cycle Issues

Your menstrual cycle begins the first day of one period and ends on the first day of the next. The average is 28 days, and anything between 21 and 35 is normal.

But it may not always happen like this.

Lots of things can affect your cycle, such as stress, illness, body weight, and diet, including eating disorders.

It also depends on ovulation, or when your ovaries release an egg about halfway through your cycle. This may not happen every month, especially at first.

Tracking your period can help you understand your own personal pattern. Chart out every day for a few months, including symptoms (mood swings, bloating) and when your period starts and ends. Be detailed about your blood flow: is it light, normal, or heavy?

Skipping a Period

A missed period doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. It’s normal not to have one once in a while, especially if your body is dealing with something big, like stress, sickness, or heavy exercise.

If you miss more than one period, and you’ve taken a pregnancy test to make sure that’s not the reason, talk to your doctor.

Nausea

PMS can make you want to eat the house down. But nausea is a normal part of your period.

One of the hormones released during your cycle is called prostaglandin. Though most of it sheds with the uterine lining, some gets into your bloodstream. This can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.

Many over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen cut down on prostaglandin production and may help ease these symptoms as well.

Everything You Wanted To Know about Period Poop

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If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Period poop—two words you probably never heard in health class. But changes in stool are common during your period. Whether you’ve experienced diarrhea, constipation, smelly poop, or any other changes to your bowel movements during your period, we’re going to dive deep into this important topic.  

People who get periods have probably noticed that their bowel movements (or period poops) may stray from their “normal” during a period or menstrual cycle. Some experience constipation or diarrhea, while others may experience pain. It may be a different consistency or smell than times outside your menstrual cycle. Many people may also note a change in their bowel movements just before their cycle starts, during their premenstrual time (Bernstein, 2014).

The answer for almost every question related to how your period impacts your body is usually the same: hormones. 

Your hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and prostaglandins, fluctuate during and around your menstrual cycle. Prostaglandins are a necessary part of menstruation; they cause uterine muscle contractions that help you eliminate the excess endometrial tissue you don’t need because you are not pregnant. Unfortunately, they can also contribute to the painful cramps associated with menstrual cycles (Reed, 2018).  

Prostaglandins can also affect your gastrointestinal (or GI) tract by causing your gut muscles to contract. These hormones may even affect your ability to move fluids from your GI contents, leading to the pain and diarrhea often associated with period poops. By the same process, fluctuations in prostaglandins may also lead to water retention and bloating (Bernstein, 2014).

The types of food you eat can also affect your bowel movements. For example, coffee has a laxative effect on many people. If you are lactose intolerant but crave ice cream around your menstrual cycles, you may end up with diarrhea. People with GI conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may notice that their cramping, bloating, and diarrhea get worse during their period (Bharadwaj, 2015).

Not everyone sees a spike in their bathroom visits during their period. Some folks may find themselves not having bowel movements as regularly, leading to constipation, which can cause pain when straining to poop. This symptom is, once again, thanks to hormones—but not prostaglandins. Between ovulation and your period, there is a spike in the hormone progesterone (Reed, 2018). High levels of progesterone can cause food to move more slowly through your system, causing constipation (Judkins, 2020). 

Watch your food habits around your period. Avoid heavy, fatty foods that can cause constipation. Try to incorporate more fiber and veggies into your diet—especially if your time-of-the-month tends to cause constipation.

Not only does progesterone affect the movement of food, but it can also affect your eating habits in the days leading up to your period. Progesterone has been linked to binge eating before and during your menstrual cycle (Racine, 2012). Changes in your eating habits can affect your stool odor, which may be why period poops can smell worse than regular bowel movements. If you’re typically someone who eats relatively healthy most of the time, a drastic change in your diet can lead to foul-smelling bowel movements.  

Most of the time, diarrhea, pain, constipation, cramping, etc., are regular occurrences during your period. As long as your stool is not completely liquid or isn’t associated with severe weakness, fevers, or vomiting, your period poops are normal. If you don’t have a tampon inserted during your bowel movement, you may notice blood in the toilet and when you wipe. 

Otherwise, if you see blood in your stool, you should consult with your healthcare provider.

Pain, cramping, and other symptoms along those lines are unfortunately normal parts of having a period. But if your pain is so severe that you can’t control it with over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc., it’s time to see your healthcare provider. This could be a sign of a more serious issue like endometriosis. Lastly, if your bowel movements don’t go back to normal after your menstrual cycle, seek medical advice.

1. Bernstein, M.T., Graff, L.A., Avery, L. et al. (2014) Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women. BMC Women’s Health,14, 14. doi: 10.1186/1472-6874-14-14. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24450290/
2. Bharadwaj S, Barber MD, Graff LA, Shen B. (2015) Symptomatology of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease during the menstrual cycle. Gastroenterology Report (Oxford), 3(3):185-93. doi: 10.1093/gastro/gov010. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25788484/
3. Judkins TC, Dennis-Wall JC, Sims SM, Colee J, Langkamp-Henken B. (2020). Stool frequency and form and gastrointestinal symptoms differ by day of the menstrual cycle in healthy adult women taking oral contraceptives: a prospective observational study. BMC Womens Health, 20(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s12905-020-01000-x. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32600463/
4. Racine SE, Culbert KM, Keel PK, Sisk CL, Burt SA, Klump KL. (2012). Differential associations between ovarian hormones and disordered eating symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 45(3):333-44. doi: 10.1002/eat.20941. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21656540/
5. Reed BG, Carr BR. (2018) The normal menstrual cycle and the control of ovulation. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054

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Learn the Difference Between Painful Periods, Endometriosis and IBS

If you have pain in your pelvic area, it may be difficult to know what’s causing your discomfort. Maybe you feel nauseous or constipated, or have diarrhea. You may have mild to severe cramping during your period. Or perhaps you have pain during intercourse or during a bowel movement. These symptoms can range from inconvenient to incapacitating, and the causes can vary as well.

PMS and Painful Periods

It’s not uncommon to have the discomfort of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, around the time of your period. More than 50 percent of women who menstruate say they have some kind of pain one to two days each month. During your period, hormone-like substances cause your uterus to contract so it can shed its lining. This contraction is what causes cramping.

Pain and other symptoms, such as nausea, constipation and diarrhea, can occur before your period starts. Additionally, you may have emotional discomfort before your period, including anxiety, depressed mood, irritability and moodiness. These symptoms usually dissipate after your period begins.

This cyclical timing helps distinguish PMS from other conditions. But while some pain during periods is common, if over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen is ineffective and your symptoms prevent you from doing regular daily activities, it’s time to talk with your doctor.

If pain keeps you from living your life, make an appointment to talk with your gynecologist today.

Endometriosis

Unlike PMS, pain from endometriosis is not caused by contractions of the uterus. Instead, it occurs when cells from the uterus are implanted outside of the uterus, sometimes in the pelvic cavity, bowel or bladder. The implantation causes inflammation, which in turn creates pain.

Pain during your period is the most common sign of endometriosis, but you may also feel pain during intercourse, a bowel movement or urination. You may have irregular cycles, with a period every two or six weeks, or even skipping entire months. In general, the pain of endometriosis is cyclical, which is one way to distinguish it from other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, some women with endometriosis have constant pain.

Endometriosis is a tricky condition because its symptoms are similar to other conditions, and some women may not realize that their “bad periods” are not normal, but symptoms of a more serious condition.

While endometriosis cannot be prevented, it can be treated. Hormone therapy, such as hormonal contraceptives (i.e. birth control pills, injections, patch or ring), inhibit ovulation to suppress the secretion of hormones. Another type of medicine, a GnRH agonist, works in the brain to inhibit stimulation of the ovaries. This powerful medicine is only given after a diagnosis of endometriosis is made through surgery, when the doctor can clearly see signs of inflammation and scarring.

Pregnancy also has the side effect of suppressing the ovaries. Although endometriosis can cause scarring in the Fallopian tubes, possibly making it more difficult to get pregnant, the condition does not affect the pregnancy once it occurs.

The removal of the ovaries and uterus is the ultimate way to treat endometriosis. This option is not usually recommended for younger patients, but may be suitable for older patients who no longer plan to become pregnant.

IBS

While its symptoms can be felt in the pelvic area, IBS affects the large intestine, causing abdominal cramping, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Unlike painful periods and most cases of endometriosis, the pain from IBS doesn’t coincide with your period. Instead, its symptoms may appear as frequently as several times a week and continue over the course of months. IBS may be diagnosed if you have abdominal pain that overlaps with your bowel movements (i.e. more or less pain after a bowel movement, and changes in the appearance or frequency of your bowel movement).

Dietary and lifestyle changes, medicines to treat symptoms, probiotics and mental health therapies are used to help manage IBS.

Whether your pelvic area pain comes from your period, endometriosis, IBS or another condition, it’s time to get answers. If pain keeps you from living your life, make an appointment to talk with your gynecologist today.

Interested in Learning More About Endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects more than 6 million women in the United States. Symptoms can include pelvic pain, fatigue, painful periods, pain with intercourse, bladder pain or intestinal pain. If you experience these symptoms, talk with your gynecologist. 

Learn More

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Why Do I Poop So Much On My Period? Discover the Scientific Reason Why, Plus Ways to Alleviate the Problem

Cramps, mood swings, and breakouts are all par for the course when it comes to your period, but there’s another common issue that most women face during that time of the month – an increased need to go number two. If you’ve ever wondered “why do I poop so much on my period?,” you’re definitely not alone.

Why Do I Poop So Much on My Period

“Lots of women experience this phenomenon and for that you can probably thank two chemical signals: prostaglandins and progesterone. Prostaglandins signal the uterus to contract, to push out the uterine lining. But it’s likely that some nonconformist prostaglandins head over to the bowels and make them contract too, with some stinky results. Also, progesterone, which is a hormone that helps you maintain a pregnancy, is slightly constipating. But levels of it drop during your period, so it lets things loosen up down there,” explains PBS Nova’s “Gross Science” host Anna Rothschild. She addresses the issue head on in her web series:

How To Stop Pooping on Your Period

1. Avoid natural laxatives, such as coffee and prunes, as they will only exacerbate the problem at hand.

2. Take Ibuprofen. Remember the prostaglandins that were causing bowel contractions? Ibuprofen stops the release of prostaglandins.

3. Lessen Your Fiber Intake.

If you are pooping a lot before your period or during your period, it’s probably best to cut back on foods with a lot of fiber, as they also increase your need to go number two. High fiber foods include raspberries, pears, apples, barley, bran flakes, oatmeal, lentils, beans, artichoke, and broccoli.

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How to Deal With Period-Related Digestive Changes

• Period poop usually tends to involve diarrhea that should clear up when your period ends.
• This happens because your changing hormones can cause your digestive tract to speed up.
• About 10-16 days before your period, you may also experience constipation due to ovulation.
• Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.

Throughout your menstrual cycle, you may notice a difference in your poop since changes in hormones affect the way your bowel functions. Typical changes can include constipation shortly before your period and diarrhea during.

Here’s how hormonal fluctuations before and during your period affect your poop and what you can do to feel better.

Before your period

Constipation is common around the time you’re ovulating, which occurs about 10-16 days before your period. 

This happens because your body starts to release more progesterone, which acts as a muscle relaxant. 

When the muscles in your large intestine relax too much, waste moves more slowly through your bowel and causes constipation.

During your period

“When the period starts, many women tend to have diarrhea,” says Felice Gersh, MD, an OB-GYN and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine.

There are two main reasons why this change happens:

1. Your levels of progesterone and estrogen drop during the first couple of days of your period. When this happens, you digest food more quickly, giving your body less time to reabsorb water from the stool. This tends to result in more liquid stools.
2. You have increased levels of prostaglandins, which can trigger intestinal contractions. This can speed up your digestion and can cause diarrhea, Gersh says.

These symptoms generally last for only a few days, Gersh says, and should clear up as your period ends.

Other digestive symptoms you may notice during your period

• Fluctuations in appetite
• Acid reflux
• Bloating
• Gas

How to manage period poops

Whether you experience more constipation or diarrhea during your period, there are several ways to at least ease symptoms.

For constipation, Gersh recommends:

• Drinking more water and other fluids to make sure your stool isn’t too dry.
• Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat, as these are rich in insoluble fiber, which makes stools easier to pass.
• Taking a stool softener can help by adding moisture to your stool. You can find over-the-counter stool softeners like Ex-Lax and Dulcolax at just about any pharmacy.
• Exercising can help trigger your bowels to contract and push out stool.
• Chamomile and ginger teas can also be helpful, as they have a mild laxative effect.

For soft stools and diarrhea, Gersh recommends:

• Eating foods with soluble fiber, like oatmeal and psyllium, can absorb fluid in your bowel and relieve diarrhea.
• Avoiding greasy, sugary, and spicy foods that can irritate your bowel.
• Taking encapsulated peppermint oil, which may help relax the muscles in your bowel and slow down your digestion.
• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, as they can have laxative effects.
• Eating low-fiber foods like bananas and white rice can help make your stools more solid.

Insider’s takeaway

In the days before and during your period, hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and you may have symptoms like constipation and diarrhea. Changing your diet and taking over-the-counter medications can help manage these symptoms and bring your poop back to normal.

“Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle have major effects on gut function,” Gersh says, “Knowing this and being prepared for the consequences can make the situation very manageable.”

90,000 Diarrhea with menstruation – Treatment of diarrhea

Women’s health is a special issue. After all, it is to him that humanity owes the continuation of the race. But, often in the life of the beautiful half of humanity, situations occur when overall health leaves much to be desired, and already unpleasant days are accompanied by additional “surprises”. Diarrhea during menstruation is not rare, but rather unpleasant. Not only is there a real hormonal imbalance in general, the mood “jumps”, sprinkles on the face, the stomach hurts, the joints ache, and then there is severe diarrhea.And few people know what to do with such a “gift”. It is noted that a similar state of disorder is typical for about 1/3 of women in their childbearing period. This means that it is worth learning more about this problem. Diarrhea during menstruation is not a diagnosis, but a normal condition.

Causes of diarrhea before menstruation

Wanting to identify the main causes of diarrhea before menstruation, you should not look for a problem where it does not exist. It is not at all necessary that the prerequisite is a disease of the digestive tract or an infection.Such troubles can become the root cause only in 3-5% of cases.

If there is a desire to identify the causes of diarrhea before menstruation, then you should “blame” this inconvenience:

It is not worth “digging” deeper, since the root causes are obvious. Diarrhea appears and disappears in 1-3 days. There is absolutely no reason to worry. Moreover, an indisputable plus is the normal cleansing of the body from slagging with food waste. Diarrhea during menstruation helps to get rid of a couple of extra pounds and prevents fluid retention in the body, typical for this period in a woman’s life.In gratitude for the small tests on the 4-5th day of the cycle, you can feel an unprecedented lightness.

Only if the diarrhea does not stop and at the end of the menstrual cycle it is worth contacting a specialist. In this case, the problem can be much more serious and must be dealt with in a comprehensive manner.

Why diarrhea during menstruation

Diarrhea during menstruation is quite common and you should not worry about its appearance. Often, one menstrual cycle can only be accompanied by diarrhea, and the other, on the contrary, with constipation.And in the second case, the process is more prolonged and painful, since the long-awaited bowel movement brings not only relief, but also pain. Why does diarrhea during menstruation last for several days? This is due to the fact that gastronomic preferences may change during this period. Food that is unfamiliar to the body irritates the intestinal walls (especially if one of the diseases occurs in it), as a result, a natural reaction occurs. In addition, the hormonal background “leaves much to be desired” and if an excess of progesterone contributes to the fact that you should immediately cleanse the body, then you should not resist this.

Treatment of diarrhea with menstruation

There is no need to look for a panacea when diarrhea worries during menstruation. We can say that it does not exist. Of course, when the reason lies not in a disease of the gastrointestinal tract or a small food poisoning. When you really want to relieve symptoms, the well-known “No-shpa” will provide effective help. Not only will it relieve cramps, but it will also help reduce stomach activity.

Treatment of diarrhea during menstruation is rather unpretentious and includes adherence to a regimen and a proper lifestyle. In order to reduce symptoms, it is worth adhering to the following rules.

1. Avoid fatty, fried and exotic foods. These days it is difficult to predict how the body will react to such foods.
2. To increase the consumption of cereals and bakery products from wholemeal flour.
3. Completely exclude foods that provoke flatulence and indigestion.
4. Include jelly in the diet.
5. There are small portions.
6. Food must be fresh.
7. Abundant drinking regime.

In most cases, treatment of diarrhea with menstruation in this way gives a positive effect. With regard to drugs, pills for diarrhea, then their use should be abandoned. The body’s reaction may be reversed and diarrhea will only worsen.

Diarrhea and vomiting during menstruation

It is not worth ignoring signs such as diarrhea and vomiting during menstruation.Here the reason may lie in intestinal poisoning. Of course, for some ladies, this state of the body is very typical throughout all cycles. If these manifestations, accompanied by characteristic symptoms with strong discharge, are observed for about a day, then an urgent need to contact the infectious diseases department. Taking action in time, you can be sure that the condition does not worsen.

It must be remembered that diarrhea and vomiting, and even with fever, do not heal on their own. Taking drugs that have previously had a positive effect may backfire.

Diarrhea with delayed menstruation

Trying to find out what diarrhea testifies with a delay in menstruation, you can come across a very interesting and common cause – pregnancy. In this case, vomiting, a slight increase in temperature, and frequent urination may occur in parallel. The body is simply cleansed to create the most comfortable conditions for the baby. Loose stools, in this case, can be observed for one or 10 days. The volumes are different and there are no characteristic pains.

Diarrhea during menstruation is not uncommon.It is not worth fighting this symptom with medication. The body needs help and support “in difficult times.” Do not overexert him with unnecessary physical exertion, gastronomic delights and mental work. He will certainly thank his owner if she becomes less active and restricts her diet. Diarrhea will subside and the joy of life will return in a matter of days.

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Upset stomach during menstruation.Diarrhea during menstruation. Causes of diarrhea during critical days

Monthly bleeding (menstruation) accompanies a woman throughout her reproductive age, and indicates the readiness of the female body to conceive and bear a child. A delay in menstruation with an almost one hundred percent guarantee may indicate pregnancy. As a rule, menstruation is accompanied by pain, which in some women can be extremely sharp and severe. Often, pain is accompanied by a depressive state, rapid mood swings, and about a third of women have loose stools during menstruation.

If diarrhea during menstruation does not go away in one day, then for many it is a source of additional concern. In general, diarrhea during menstruation is a completely normal process, and it indicates the body’s desire to cleanse itself of accumulated harmful substances.

1. Increase in the amount of hormones (prostaglandins) during menstruation, which increase intestinal motility when spasmodic pain occurs.
2. Irritable bowel syndrome.
3. Relaxation of the vaginal muscles.

Diarrhea during menstruation for these reasons disappears without a trace in a few days and does not require special treatment. In this regard, diarrhea during menstruation is a normal phenomenon, which allows not only to cleanse the body, but also to help a woman lose a couple of kilograms of excess weight in a natural way. However, if after menstruation the diarrhea does not stop, then you need to contact a medical institution.

It is possible that loose stools during menstruation simply coincided with the menstrual cycle, and in fact is a symptom of the disease.There are situations when diarrhea and a delay in menstruation occur simultaneously. The first thing to do when doing this is to get a pregnancy test. It is possible that diarrhea is the first sign of pregnancy, and the body is already actively preparing for the comfortable development of the fetus. This statement may be supported by additional symptoms in the form of vomiting, frequent urge to urinate, slightly increased body temperature.

Bowel dysfunction can last up to ten days and without pain.Most often, diarrhea before menstruation is noted just before the onset of menstruation and lasts 2-3 days. To facilitate the work of the intestines with diarrhea during menstruation, it is recommended:

1. Exclude unusual foods, fried and fatty foods, as well as foods that cause flatulence from the diet.
2. Increase in the food menu the content of products with strengthening properties.
3. Avoid nervous shocks, rest more, go in for sports, but only in a gentle mode.

Why, when does menstrual diarrhea begin?

Although diarrhea before menstruation does not have a negative effect on a woman’s body, it is still a very unpleasant situation that causes great inconvenience to a woman. Loose stools before menstruation, accompanied by vomiting, indicates food poisoning. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to get rid of diarrhea on your own. Failure to take urgent measures for treatment can lead to intoxication of the body and very serious consequences.

The doctor will be able to prescribe those medications that can help a woman in this particular situation. Medical intervention is necessary if an upset stomach before menstruation is accompanied by very strong vomiting and is unusual. If diarrhea and vomiting constantly accompany a woman with each menstruation, then this speaks of the individual characteristics of this organism and does not require any treatment.

At the same time, what to do with diarrhea during menstruation is to pay attention to the color and consistency of feces.A strong unpleasant odor, a darker color and traces of blood in the stool indicate the need to go to the hospital. To identify pathogenic pathogens, a large number of tests are prescribed and also an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. An ultrasound scan is performed when the uterus reaches a certain size required for the study.

Disorder of the intestines during menstruation in a woman occurs much more often with contractions in the lower abdomen. And the more intense these pains, the greater the likelihood of diarrhea.This is due to the fact that at this time in the small pelvis there is a significant increase in blood circulation, pressing on the intestines and causing a change in stool. If at the same time you use medications without medical advice, then they can increase pain and provoke pathological changes in the digestive tract. Another reason why before menstruation diarrhea may be the “bend of the uterus”, which is an internal feature of the body. Such anatomical pathology cannot be treated and disappears after the first pregnancy and normal childbirth.

With too frequent acts of defecation, giving a woman, and so exhausted by menstruation, the body, additional troubles, you can adjust the diet. Rice, buckwheat porridge, oatmeal, as well as cottage cheese, crackers are useful for fixing feces. Decoctions of medicinal herbs with a fixing effect are also very effective. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to completely exclude from the menu sweet, carbonated drinks, fresh vegetables and fruits, which have a relaxing effect on the intestines, some time before the start of the menstrual cycle.All meals should be freshly prepared and clean boiled water should be drunk in an increased amount to restore fluid loss. Of the drugs, you can use no-shpa to relieve pain. On critical days, it is recommended to limit the amount of food intake, spend more time outdoors.

Diarrhea during menstruation occurs in about one third of women and in most cases is not associated with serious health problems.

Every month a woman’s appetite often changes, an increased amount of hormones is released, and diarrhea is not the only consequence.

Menstruation is sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain, weight changes, both upward and downward, and the appearance of acne.

Causes of diarrhea before, during and after menstruation

If diarrhea occurs before menstruation, for some reason many women are immediately ready to think about infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, this is the cause only in 3-5% of cases. Most often, diarrhea before menstruation occurs due to the following:

• Relaxed vaginal muscles;

90 025 irritable bowel;

• increased production of hormones.

Most often, diarrhea disappears in a couple of days, and the body is cleansed. You should be on your guard if diarrhea is delayed or starts to be accompanied by other signs.
Diarrhea during menstruation is common and usually resolves in a couple of days. For many women, instead of diarrhea, constipation may occur, also associated with changes in the body during menstruation. An excess of progesterone, which is actively produced during menstruation, leads the body to the need to cleanse itself.
Another reason is irritable bowel due to regular pressure from the actively contracting uterus.
A woman’s altered appetite can also cause loose stools. During menstruation, many dramatically change their taste preferences, and the body cannot adapt at first to unusual food.

If your period is over, and the diarrhea continues, then this is a reason to consult a doctor, since in this case the reasons for this are not rooted in hormonal changes in the body.

Treatment

• Both folk councils and special medications will help alleviate your condition during your period.
• Monitor the quality of food consumed. Due to weakened immunity, the intestines can react very sensitively to unhealthy or stale food. Limit salty and fried foods.
• Increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables and limit fatty foods, give up hot spices and sauces.
• Porridge, especially for water, has a strengthening effect.
• Eat less at night, do not overeat. Even the most healthy foods should be eaten in moderation.
• Prepare special decoctions of chamomile, oak bark, yarrow.You need to drink decoctions (like any liquid) at room temperature, since cold and hot drinks only irritate the intestines, stimulating the development of diarrhea.
• Avoid strenuous activity and physical activity.

Critical days are best spent at home if possible.

Seeing a doctor and diagnostics

If your period is over, and diarrhea still continues, if it is accompanied by other painful symptoms – all this is a reason to stop self-medication and immediately consult a doctor.An urgent need to go to the clinic with the following symptoms:

• Painful bowel movements with blood or foam, abnormal stool odor;
• severe and sharp abdominal pain, often accompanied by fever, vomiting and nausea;
• diarrhea lasting more than two days.

The doctor will conduct a complete medical examination and may prescribe the following types of tests:

• blood test;
• feces analysis;
• Ultrasound of the intestine;
• intestinal endoscopy.

Most likely, you will have to contact a gynecologist, gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist to establish the correct diagnosis.

Delay of menstruation

If diarrhea does not appear during menstruation, but instead of them, then this may be a reason for serious concern and seeking medical attention. By itself, a delay does not mean anything good, but together with diarrhea, this may indicate the development of a disease or pregnancy.
Pregnancy is the first reason that comes to mind of any woman.In total, nausea, diarrhea, weakness, high fever may appear in the early stages of delay. You need to get a pregnancy test and see your doctor.
Ectopic pregnancy. If menstruation does not occur, but there are sharp abdominal pains and smearing brown discharge (additional symptoms are nausea, weakness, diarrhea, loss of consciousness), then this may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. If you have the slightest suspicion, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Gastritis, pancreatitis. Such diseases are often accompanied by diarrhea, and menstruation may also be delayed.

Stress can simultaneously cause both an unstable menstrual cycle and diarrhea.

For more details about the delay of menstruation, see this video

Diarrhea with other symptoms

If diarrhea during menstruation is accompanied by other symptoms, for example, vomiting, then this is a sign of intestinal poisoning and other serious diseases.In a relatively small number of women, menstruation is constantly accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting at the same time only due to hormonal reasons.
Persistent diarrhea during and even after menstruation is a signal that diarrhea is caused not only by hormonal causes. The likelihood of one of the following diseases is high:
Intestinal infection. The risk of contracting it just before menstruation is especially great, since at this time a person’s immunity is weakened.
Chronic bowel disease. As in the previous paragraph, they can be aggravated due to weakened immunity.These days, you should especially carefully monitor the diet and not expose the body to unnecessary stress.
Cystitis. Although a bladder infection has nothing to do with the gut, it can also cause diarrhea during your period. The diseased bladder presses on the uterus, forcing it to contract faster. When the uterus moves, the intestines are also touched.
Endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrium of the uterus enters other organs, including the intestines.

Uterine fibroids is a benign tumor that can also press on the intestines and stimulate its motility, causing diarrhea.

Conclusion

Diarrhea during or instead of menstruation can be either a normal state of the body, caused only by a change in hormonal levels, or a symptom of a serious illness or pregnancy. During menstruation, you cannot expose the body to stress, stress, then the probability of transferring them painlessly is higher.

There is also no universal answer why during menstruation diarrhea, an accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor.

Pay attention!

The presence of symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea
• bad breath
• heartburn
• abdominal pain
• feeling of heaviness in the abdomen
• constipation
• burp
• increased gas production (flatulence)

If you have at least 2 of these symptoms, then this indicates a developing

gastritis or ulcer. These diseases are dangerous for the development of serious complications (penetration, gastric bleeding, etc.), many of which can lead to

LETAL

exodus. Treatment should be started now.

Read an article about how a woman got rid of these symptoms by defeating their root cause in a natural way. Read material …

Why diarrhea with menstruation is a question that interests a large number of girls. Diarrhea is often the first symptom of an approaching period.On such days, diarrhea does not require treatment, it goes away on its own in the same way as it occurs. This is what constitutes the main problem, since getting rid of diarrhea during menstruation with a medication is sometimes very difficult.

In some women, diarrhea appears only on the first day of menstruation, and in some throughout the entire period of menstruation. There can be many reasons for this manifestation, therefore, many women are interested in why diarrhea appears during menstruation, and whether this is normal.

Causes of diarrhea during menstruation

An intestinal disorder is always associated with loose stools. In this case, loose stools become the result of infections and inflammation in the body. Diarrhea during menstruation differs in that it is not accompanied by a high temperature. However, other characteristics may be present such as:

Preventive measures

In order to relieve the symptoms of diarrhea during menstruation, a woman needs to follow some preventive measures.In the second half of the menstrual cycle, you should switch to a special diet. The following foods must be present in the diet:

• meat broths, preferably strong;

90,025 cottage cheese;

• strong black tea;
• buckwheat, oatmeal;

90,025 potatoes;

90,025 crackers;

• white bread.

These products have a strong firming effect. The feces become harder. However, you should be careful about your diet and do not overload the intestines with too heavy food, otherwise constipation and intestinal obstruction may occur.

The diet also includes the temporary elimination of certain foods from the diet. In the period before menstruation, the following products should be abandoned:

• cabbage;

90,025 beets;

• cucumbers;

90,025 legumes;

• alcohol;

90,025 coffee;

90,025 milk products;

• juices;

Important! It is not recommended to take medications to eliminate diarrhea in premenstrual syndrome, as they can harm the body.It is better to use folk recipes to relieve symptoms. For example, a decoction of chamomile, oak bark or St. John’s wort can help well.

Alternatively, you can swallow a few black peppercorns. To relieve pain caused by a spasm in the intestines, you can use the herbal preparation No-shpa.

Diarrhea during the period of delay in menstruation

Delayed menstruation and diarrhea often accompany each other. It should be noted that the combination of these symptoms does not appear just like that.Diarrhea and delayed menstruation occur due to the fact that the hormonal background in a woman’s body is seriously changing. All systems and organs begin to prepare for carrying a pregnancy, and therefore the ratios of hormones begin to change. The increase in progesterone in the blood has a relaxing effect on the intestines and other organs of the digestive tract.

In addition, in addition to loose stools, other symptoms appear, such as headache, breast enlargement, apathy, increased body fatigue, drowsiness and decreased performance.Diarrhea during pregnancy can last for a couple of months.

Know! Diarrhea with delayed menstruation is a sure sign of pregnancy.

In the future, the feces will become harder, even constipation is observed in the last months of pregnancy. Sometimes diarrhea appears before the delay in menstruation, in this case it is too early to talk about pregnancy. You should wait 2-3 days, if the critical days do not come on time, you need to buy a pregnancy test.Often, with diarrhea and delay, a woman’s lower back pulls, which is also a sign of pregnancy. In the first weeks, the egg is fixed, and therefore painful sensations arise.

Diarrhea during ovulation

The occurrence of diarrhea during ovulation does not indicate a direct relationship between these phenomena. However, diarrhea can occur during ovulation as a result of irritable bowel syndrome.

This syndrome occurs due to a decrease in the distance between the egg and the intestine.As a result of the increased load on the intestines and abdominal cavity, irritation in these organs increases.

Ovulation can also cause an increased contraction of the intestinal walls, which in turn causes a thinning of the stool. Getting rid of diarrhea that occurs during ovulation or during premenstrual syndrome with drugs will not work.

The only thing that can be done in this case is to adjust the power supply. Some folk methods can also help.However, you should be especially careful about the symptoms of the disorder. If diarrhea continues after ovulation, especially with an increase in temperature, you should see your doctor.

Diarrhea during menstruation occurs in about 30% of women. The reasons for this phenomenon are varied, ranging from
physiological characteristics of the body and ending with poisoning or intoxication. From the article you will learn
why diarrhea occurs during menstruation and how to treat it.

Diarrhea during menstruation, a variety of ailments

Before
than wondering why during menstruation diarrhea, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of the process.Diarrhea can be chronic or acute. Acute develops suddenly, ends quickly and most often proceeds without complications. The disease, which has taken on a chronic form, becomes dangerous for its carrier. It tortures the woman for several months.

There are several types of diarrhea:

• hypersecretory, develops with a decrease in the amount of absorbed salts and water from the intestine;
• osmolar, occurs due to digestive disorders, food residues are present in the feces;
• hypokinetic
  , provoked by the slow passage of feces through the intestines;
• hyperexudative
  , indicates intestinal inflammation;
• hyperkinetic, associated with increased intestinal peristalsis.

A type of chronic diarrhea is important when choosing the methods of its treatment. Self-diagnosis in such cases will not help, because without a special examination you will not be able to find out what type of diarrhea you are suffering from.

Causes of diarrhea before menstruation

Diarrhea during menstruation surprises women,
why it happens the beautiful half of humanity does not understand. And this symptom is not the most common.
… Diarrhea before menstruation is not dangerous in most situations.It is provoked by a change in hormonal levels. At the end of the menstrual cycle, progesterone is produced by the uterus. This substance is necessary to relax the smooth muscles of the muscles, soften the uterus and prepare it for pregnancy. In addition to the endometrium, the hormone acts on the intestines. The organ begins to relax and the patient suffers from diarrhea.

Diarrhea after a couple of menstrual cycles can be replaced by constipation. Such phenomena are absolutely normal and go away after
3–
4 days. There is no specific treatment for diarrhea during menstruation.You can drink no-shpu
to stop the spasms. During menstruation, there is an increased blood circulation in the pelvic organs. It can increase intestinal motility, provoke abdominal cramps. In addition to diarrhea, women experience pain due to the contraction of the uterus. The best way to pause the process is to take
drugs that relieve spasms.

How to treat diarrhea during menstruation?

To stop diarrhea during menstruation, you need to follow the correct daily regimen and adhere to the following tips:

• Avoid oily and excessive
  salty

  food.The end of your menstrual cycle is not the best time for culinary experimentation. Try to eat already proven lungs
  dishes. Long gatherings with friends and feasts are also better postponed.

• Reduce food portions. The stomach and intestines of a healthy person will not respond very well if instead of small portions of the dish they contain a kilogram of pie. Therefore, try to eat often, but in small portions.
• Drink plenty of clean water. Teas, juices and jelly contain substances that remove fluid from the body.Instead of
  then replace them with a clean one
  boiled

  water
  …

Eat fresh vegetables and fruits. They are the least burdensome for the digestive tract, so it is beneficial to eat them during menstruation and illness.

Diarrhea during menstruation will go away very quickly if you follow these recommendations. Grabbing specialized pills for diarrhea is not worth it, since they can increase the manifestations of diarrhea. In such situations, it is better to immediately remember the main reasons for the onset of the disease, i.e.e. about relaxation of muscles and spasms caused by hormones, and then select the appropriate pills. It is not recommended to resort to traditional medicine, since many fees and herbs stimulate the digestion process and increase blood flow. Their reception
will lead to the fact that the symptoms of diarrhea will become more pronounced, and the amount of discharge will increase.

When should I see a doctor?

Diarrhea that does not go away until the end of the menstrual cycle is an alarming signal for a woman. This means that the body is susceptible to intestinal infection.Similar conclusions can be drawn if, in addition to diarrhea, a woman vomits violently. If, against the background of this, the amount of discharge increases, then you need to immediately contact the clinic.

Alarm – color change of stool to darker
… If there is blood and a large amount of mucus in the stool, you need to go to the clinic. In a medical institution, a woman will undergo an ultrasound of the pelvic organs in order to more accurately
identify the problem that led to diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms.Also
the patient will be sent to donate blood for analysis.

Due to the peculiarity of the physiological structure of the body, intestinal disorders disturb women more often than men.

Such problems are manifested by improper work of the gastrointestinal tract, spasms, colitis, indigestion during menstruation.

Although the phenomena under consideration are subjective, they cause a lot of inconvenience and excitement to the fair sex. After all, diarrhea during menstruation is not entirely normal.

No woman can boast that she does not feel discomfort on critical days. During this period, the lady is faced with weakness, increased irritability, soreness in the abdomen.

And if diarrhea is added to all these symptoms, then the woman’s anxiety increases.

Experts cannot give an unequivocal answer to the question why diarrhea is often observed during menstruation. The female body is individual, therefore, situations differ.

The main causes of diarrhea on critical days

During menstruation, a surge of hormones is observed in a woman’s body, which are responsible for the renewal of the uterine lining.

Gestagens affect the uterus in such a way that it contracts intensively, ejecting its inner lining.

Why is this happening? The causes of diarrhea can be caused by hormonal changes. But there are other factors that provoke diarrhea during menstruation. They are as follows:

1. Relaxation of the muscles of the uterus, which is the main condition for its contraction. A full intestine should not interfere with the activity of the organ, so it begins to rapidly empty itself naturally.
2. Increase in the level of prostaglandins – substances that provoke uterine contraction and irritate the pain receptor. This indicates that the stomach hurts during menstruation on the first day precisely because of the activity of prostaglandins. Due to the fact that the intestine also consists of muscles, the substances in question have an effect on them, provoking an accelerated release of feces and diarrhea.
3. Excessive food intake. During critical days, ladies’ appetite increases and they crave sweets. In the event that a woman is led by her desires and does not restrain herself from eating, her intestines can rebel. A similar riot is caused by overconsumption of sugar. The product causes fermentation, bloating and gas formation in the intestines. And if a woman drinks sweets with plenty of water, then the feces become liquid and diarrhea is observed during menstruation.
4. Stressful situations. Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by the fact that a girl can very easily be made to cry, and she reacts more sharply even to the smallest troubles. The body can respond to such emotions by increasing intestinal motility and, consequently, diarrhea during menstruation.
5. Carrying a baby can also cause a woman to develop diarrhea. Why is the phenomenon under consideration observed? In this case, the hormone progesterone, which is produced in excess, may be the culprit.This hormone acts as a laxative in the intestines. And the increased appetite of the expectant mother only aggravates the situation, which results in diarrhea.
6. Increased blood circulation in the pelvic organs. This phenomenon is considered the norm on the first day and subsequent days of menstruation. Blood rushes to the pelvis also for hormonal reasons. It also causes swelling of the uterus, which can press on the intestines and provoke diarrhea.
7. Features of premenstrual syndrome are hormonal changes in the body of a lady and often appear before the onset of menstruation.The symptoms of PMS are known to all girls and can significantly spoil their lives.

Diarrhea in this case can make itself felt a few days before menstruation. Diarrhea is often accompanied by nausea and mood swings. In addition, the woman complains that she has a bad stomach ache.

Diarrhea during menstruation is normal and will go away on its own. But there are also situations when diarrhea occurs due to pathological processes observed in the body.

When diarrhea can be called a pathology

Alas, not every diarrhea on the first day of menstruation is a physiological phenomenon that cleans the body of a lady.

Sometimes diarrhea can be a symptom of a dangerous pathology, and its onset during menstruation can be explained by a banal coincidence.

In order to understand the true causes of the development of digestive disorders, it is necessary to study well the nature of bowel movements, their frequency and parallel symptoms.

In the event that, after menstruation, the stool does not return to normal, a woman should contact a medical institution.

Pathological diarrhea is always accompanied by specific symptoms. They are as follows:

1. Unpleasant odor.
2. Presence of mucus, blood or green inclusions in feces.
3. Discoloration of stool.
4. Watery consistency of feces.

Only a qualified specialist is able to identify the true causes of the phenomenon in question, who must examine the patient, diagnose and prescribe proper treatment, if any.

A woman should immediately seek the help of specialists in the case when diarrhea during menstruation is accompanied by fever and vomiting.

Similar symptoms indicate intestinal poisoning or even more dangerous pathologies.

Methods for the treatment of diarrhea

If diarrhea was caused exclusively by hormonal changes, then you do not need to immediately drink Imodium and Loperamide – substances that quickly relieve a person of diarrhea.

But they are used only when the diarrhea was preceded by an upset gastrointestinal tract.

Due to the fact that a woman’s period is not a disease, such medications will only aggravate the situation and provoke another pathology – chronic constipation.

But there are a number of effective measures that will help to cope with diarrhea on the first day of menstruation. They are as follows:

1. A woman must control her appetite and what she eats. Food should be chosen only freshly prepared, boiled or stewed. You will temporarily have to give up fried food so as not to think about why you have diarrhea during your period.
2. Experts recommend eliminating fatty foods, salt and sugar from the diet a day or two before menstruation. This also includes hot spices that can provoke diarrhea. It is best to cut back on fruits and vegetables that cause fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Doctors advise to eat oatmeal, buckwheat or rice porridge cooked in purified water. Such nutrition will protect the intestinal mucosa, and stop liquid bowel movements. You can drink tea, jelly, eat white bread croutons, lean meat and not fatty cottage cheese.
4. It is worth remembering that food should be taken frequently, but in small portions. This is especially true in the evening, before bedtime.
5. An upset bowel will quickly subside after menstruation if she drinks chamomile teas, which are soothing and astringent in the intestines.
6. Drinking water should not be hot or cold. It is better to boil and cool it first.
7. Physical activity and sports are common causes of diarrhea during critical days.Why it happens? Because active movements improve peristalsis and push the feces to exit naturally. The girl is recommended to walk more, breathe fresh air in a calm environment.
8. Intestinal cramps will help relieve No-shpa. This drug relaxes the body and relieves soreness.

Doctors have established a connection between diarrhea and digestive disorders. This suggests that the underlying causes should be addressed in order to prevent defecation disorder.

A woman quite often has diarrhea during menstruation, as well as pain in the lower abdomen and other unpleasant symptoms. How dangerous is diarrhea in this case and what to expect if feces have acquired a suspicious green tint?

Diarrhea during menstruation

During menstruation, almost all of the fairer sex have certain changes in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to changes in taste and addiction to certain dishes, a woman or girl may experience diarrhea or, even worse, constipation.

In both situations, she feels severe discomfort and even in some cases pain.

Why does diarrhea occur during menstruation? The reason – in a special hormone called progesterone, which in such a “magical” way acts on the digestive tract. In addition, it also relaxes the pelvic muscles.

How to treat

Diarrhea during menstruation, in principle, is a temporary phenomenon and absolutely normal. If a woman does not feel any special discomfort, then you can simply take a No-shpy or Spazmalgon pill.These drugs perfectly relieve pain and eliminate spasms, so the bowel function gradually returns to normal, and the diarrhea disappears.

Control of your menu can be a preventive measure. During menstruation, it is not advisable to eat foods that increase intestinal motility and increase diarrhea. These include fresh vegetables, legumes, dried fruits, bran bread, etc.

Do not forget about the drinking regime. To prevent the body from suffering from dehydration with diarrhea, you should drink a lot.Teas, a decoction of chamomile, jelly and compotes are suitable, and simple drinking water will not be superfluous.

To regulate the work of the intestines, you should eat more cereals, cereal dishes. It is highly discouraged to experiment with a new kitchen during your period. If you want to try something new and unusual, it is better to postpone familiarization with this dish or product until another day of the monthly cycle.

Dangerous symptoms

But, if suddenly diarrhea during menstruation has acquired a protracted character, vomiting has added to it, or even the temperature has increased, you should start worrying.Most likely, the situation is not in the best way: poisoning or an allergic reaction to some medicines or food is possible.

Especially dangerous is diarrhea, colored green and having a pungent fetid odor. One of the reasons for this phenomenon is dysentery or the presence of any other intestinal infection in the body.

This may be accompanied by fever, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting. If at least 2 of the listed symptoms appear, you should definitely seek medical help.

Green color of diarrhea can also indicate liver problems. In this case, a large amount of bilirubin is released into the blood. When it enters the intestinal mucosa, it acquires a greenish tint, which stains the feces.

A very rare case of green staining of feces – intestinal bleeding. But this is also one of the most dangerous situations requiring immediate medical attention.

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Everyone faces stool disorders.However, diarrhea during menstruation causes discomfort, since the menstrual cycle is accompanied by other symptoms – general weakness, increased irritability, and frequent mood swings. Therefore, together with all the symptoms, diarrhea becomes a serious problem.

Why with monthly diarrhea

Diarrhea before menstruation can have various causes. In addition to hormonal changes, physiological factors also lead to stool disorders. Possible causes:

• Contraction of the muscles of the uterus;
• changes in hormonal levels;
• improper diet;
• diseases of the stomach with intestines;
• rush of blood to the pelvic organs;
• bend of the uterus.

Changes in the body due to the menstrual cycle can lead to intestinal upset. Only after determining the exact cause of the onset of diarrhea can adequate therapy be prescribed.

Incorrect power supply

With the advent of menstruation, a woman’s eating habits may change. Diarrhea during menstruation can occur due to improper, non-standard diet for a woman. Some girls start eating often and eat a lot, while others resort to serious culinary experiments.Hormonal fluctuations force a woman to consume those foods that she had not even thought of eating before. Therefore, the digestive organs are exposed to stress, increased peristalsis, which becomes the cause of diarrhea.

Uterine contractions

Before menstruation, the processes of preparation for the detachment of the functional mucous layer take place in the uterus. With the onset of menstruation, the activity of the muscle contractions of the uterus spreads to the intestines, since they are located close to each other.There is no need to treat this condition – the diarrhea goes away on its own.

Diseases

Some diseases are asymptomatic for a long time, but after the onset of menstruation they begin to actively manifest themselves. The sensitivity of the female body during this period increases significantly. Common symptoms of a bowel disorder are:

• nausea;

90,025 vomiting;

• pain in the abdomen.

If a woman thinks that stool disorders are due to a disease, it is required to undergo a diagnosis prescribed by a specialist therapy.

Another serious pathological condition can also be the cause of stool disorders:

• endometriosis;
• cystitis;
• enteritis and colitis;
• intestinal infections.

Hormonal fluctuations

During menstruation, the female body is faced with serious changes in the level of hormonal levels, in particular an increase in the level of prostaglandin, which is responsible for relaxing smooth muscles. First of all, this process should spread to the uterus, but the intestines also relax, so diarrhea during menstruation is a natural process of cleansing the body.

Blood rush

Menstruation causes serious changes in the body. The rush of blood to the pelvic organs becomes the cause of an increase in the load on them. As a result, the intestines respond to the increased load with stool disturbances.

Uterine fold

A complete diagnosis in a medical institution can give a woman an answer to the question of what caused diarrhea during menstruation. The examination is necessary when a woman does not have disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract, and loose stools are explained by gynecological factors.

Bending of the uterus is a serious pathological condition that provokes severe pain, diarrhea. Diarrhea can continue even after your period. To date, experts do not know methods of treating such a pathology. It is believed that after childbirth, the problem may disappear on its own.

Characteristics of diarrhea

During menses, diarrhea begins in the morning after waking up. Before the onset of menstruation (within 7 days), slight stool disturbances may occur. Closer to menstruation (in 1-2 days), the stool becomes more liquid.An upset stomach can be accompanied by painful sensations of varying intensity. After going to the toilet, the pain attacks subside, the feeling of discomfort disappears.

It is considered normal if diarrhea begins on the first day of menstruation or the day before. More than three trips to the toilet are a sign of gastrointestinal disorders. It is important to remember that if diarrhea does not stop at the end of the menstrual cycle, you need to go to a medical facility to determine the cause of this problem.

When is diarrhea a reason to see a doctor?

If a girl knows the cause of stool disorders, she can promptly respond to changes in her body. There are factors that cannot be ignored:

• Frequent bowel movements that do not stop after the first 2-3 days;

90,025 feces have blood streaks, foam, green fragments;

• going to the toilet is accompanied by severe pain;

90,025 menstruation is accompanied by fever, general weakness, and vomiting.

Diarrhea and delayed menstruation

A delay in menstruation and diarrhea are most often a sign of pregnancy, which is accompanied by vomiting, unstable temperature. Delayed diarrhea disappears on its own after 5-7 days, without pain. However, do not forget – diarrhea, not caused by menstruation, can provoke the development of complications. The girl should not panic, the excreted stool should be considered, if necessary, consult a specialist.

How to alleviate the condition

Diarrhea during menstruation causes discomfort, therefore, to eliminate it, relieve symptoms, experts recommend following a diet:

• to exclude fatty, spicy, fried foods from the diet;
• consume more vegetables, fruits;
• change the amount of food consumed – reduce portions, but increase their number;
• consume more liquid, it is possible to take herbal decoctions;
• to increase the number of moderate physical activity;
• Get rid of irritating factors in the form of stress, heavy physical exertion, nervous disorders.

It is possible to eliminate loose stools using fixing products:

• black tea;
• rich meat broths;

90,025 cottage cheese;

• white bread croutons;
• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal.

In cases where diarrhea is accompanied by attacks of nausea, vomiting, you should consult a specialist. This condition could be a sign of serious poisoning. After identifying the cause of this condition, the specialist will recommend the girl the correct, adequate therapy.

How the means can be applied

Diarrhea before and during your period can be a serious problem. Once diagnosed, a specialist may prescribe medication based on the cause and characteristics of the disorder. You can get rid of diarrhea with:

• Imodium – the drug helps to normalize the functioning of the intestines, improves the general condition.
• Probiotics – the drug enters the body together with “friendly bacteria”, helps to normalize the intestinal microflora.It should be remembered that probiotics are not a means of rapid action – it is necessary to undergo a course of therapy established by a specialist.
• Esterosorbents (activated carbon, food additives). Such funds absorb harmful toxins and leave the body naturally. Most often prescribed for serious poisoning, peptic ulcer, gastritis. It is important to remember that such drugs remove not only harmful, but also useful substances from the body. Therefore, it is not recommended to use them for a long time.
• Antibiotics – Essential to treat diarrhea caused by harmful bacteria. Only a doctor can determine which antibiotic will be effective.

There are many reasons for stool disturbance during menstruation. When diarrhea appears, you do not need to panic, because it can go away on its own, if this does not happen, it is better to contact a specialist and follow his recommendations.

90,000 Leave for women during their periods: are you embarrassed by something?

• Claire Lampen
• BBC Capital

December 23, 2017

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

Up to 20% of women experience such severe pain during their periods that these days they are simply disabled

It does not even occur to employers to include in their corporate policies a clause on women’s rights during the so-called critical days.But what should these rights be? And why do many consider such an innovation inappropriate?

Bex Baxter got really scared when she walked into the office one day and saw her secretary crumpled in pain in three deaths. “She was pale as a sheet and at the same time tried to explain something to the visitor.”

“I wanted to immediately release her from her job that day,” recalls Baxter (then a director of the company). “But she was very embarrassed and jokingly tried to chase me away with the words“ these are just critical days, I can handle it ”.

Until that day, it had never even occurred to Baxter to include in the corporate policy of his company Coexist in Bristol a clause on the rights of women in the so-called critical days.

But at that moment she thought about fundamental human rights and that the normal physiological process is not something to be ashamed of.

Menstrual Leave, a couple of days off for women with particularly painful menstrual periods, already exists in several countries, but is widely criticized as an unproductive solution and at times only deepens the entrenched stereotypical notions of female workers – some problems.

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

Many women experience severe pain on such days, but the inertia of society prevents them from solving the problem once and for all

In a number of Asian countries, including Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea and in some Chinese provinces, women are allowed to stay at home for a certain number of days during their periods.

However, few people use this right, fearing ridicule or not wanting to appear weak.

And when the Italian parliament in March considered introducing menstrual leave on a national scale, many expressed a very real concern: What if the right of a worker to take three days of paid leave once a month would lead to employers no longer hiring women?

Taboo topic

The inertness of society in relation to the menstrual period, the idea of ​​menstruation as something dirty, shameful, something that is indecent to mention – all this can keep girls and women at home on such days.

If there is a room at work where a woman can change a pad, in many cases it is impossible for her to leave the workplace without the risk of being reprimanded by her boss, or even losing her job.

Even those women who work in offices with comfortable toilets and a schedule that allows them to go away at any moment usually do everything so that no one will notice that they have periods.

How does the office usually react when an employee has her period? There are few studies on this topic.

One of them, conducted in 2002, showed that a woman with a tampon is perceived as less competent, less attractive and even physically repulsive.

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

In 2002, during an experiment, the reaction to women whose tampons fell out of their purses was studied. The attitude towards them was worse than towards those who dropped the hair clip

Women make up almost 40% of the world labor market, and up to 20% of them experience such severe pain during their periods that they are simply unable to work these days.

In medicine, this is called dysmenorrhea, and among the symptoms are nausea, vomiting, headache, etc. For these women, menstruation leave would be a solution, but only if it does not affect attitudes towards them at work and their careers. What can be done here?

“Corporate businesses need to change the way they think about menstruation, rethink their attitudes and allow women to be women without the stigma,” says Baxter, who has left Coexist but remains its employee rights consultant.

This stigma makes women suffer in silence. According to a 2016 survey commissioned by the BBC, more than half of the women who took part in it believe that pain during menstruation interferes with work.

And only 27% do not feel discomfort if they need to tell their boss what is happening to them.

You can get rid of unspoken taboos by openly discussing taboo topics. It is only important that this does not entail a deterioration in the position of women in the workplace.

“This is not a disease”

How a company can achieve a new attitude towards workers’ rights depends on its size and structure, but there are a few important points in common.

The first is our language, what words we use, says Lara Owen, a women’s health workplace consultant and teacher at Monash Business School in Melbourne, Australia.

“The term” menstrual leave “has an undesirable connotation – for those people who have never experienced the torment of” critical days “, it can cause completely inadequate associations.”

For example: “These women get a vacation for something that really does not pose any problem.” Instead of “menstrual leave,” Owen prefers to use words that convey a different meaning: to ease working conditions for those who have to spend their period in the office, rather than just send them home for a few days.

Photo by Lara Owen

Caption,

Menstruation leave has an unwanted connotation, says Lara Owen

Eden King, an assistant professor of psychology at Texas Rice University who studies discrimination in the workplace, agrees that rules that would seem to make life easier for women can backfire.

She proposes to completely exclude the mention of gender from this situation, and then dysmenorrhea sufferers will be able to get those “sick days” that they need.

“Offer flexible vacation time for everyone in your organization so that people can take a few days when they’re not feeling well, no matter what the reason,” King says.

“Then everyone is on an equal footing. While the rules that distinguish a certain group of employees as in need of additional care, that is, treat them as knowingly weaker, have the potential for negative consequences.They only reinforce the prevailing gender stereotypes. ”

And yet, if one of the goals of introducing“ menstrual leave ”is to get rid of taboos, why should we be afraid of the word“ menstruation ”?

This is not a disease, Lara Owen emphasizes. On the contrary, regularity her cycle is a sign of health. ”

Flexibility in terms of vacation is important, Owen says, and it makes sense to list your period as a good reason for the company.

Photo Credit, Getty Images

“Making a strong, unabashed and proud message of concern is the way to get out of inertia,” says Lisa Schecktman, director of strategy and outreach at WaterAid America.

It won’t happen quickly, but women need to get involved, she emphasizes.

Bex Baxter is now helping his former company Coexist develop new policies for women and their menstrual cycle.

According to her, employees will be offered flexible options for how they can manage their working hours during the period.

Like Lara Owen, Baxter would like women to look at this period in their lives differently – as something positive, “a symbol of health and vitality.”

To read the original of this article in English, visit BBC Capital .

What will menstruation tell about, diarrhea during menstruation

What problems can menstruation tell about?
Unfortunately, a woman does not always know which menstrual cycle is normal.Often, menstrual disorders occur from the very beginning of its formation. The woman gets used to it and does not even realize that something is wrong.
Menstruation is a cyclical rejection of the functional layer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), accompanied by uterine bleeding.

Menstruation occurs as a result of hormonal changes in the body associated with the reverse development of the corpus luteum, which was formed in the ovaries after the release of the egg.

The normal menstrual cycle is a cycle lasting 21-35 days (usually 28 days), accompanied by menstruation lasting 3-7 days with moderate blood loss (80-100 ml, no clots).

In healthy women, menstruation does not cause any significant changes in health and mood, does not disrupt the usual way of life and does not impair performance.

Menstruation is a reflection of women’s health, and its violation is a signal from the body that not everything is well.

Menstruation control provides the broadest opportunities for self-diagnosis, timely detection of various gynecological and general diseases, contraception and pregnancy planning.

Therefore, any woman must necessarily keep a calendar of menstruation.

6 reasons for concern

1. Change in the duration of the menstrual cycle: lengthening of the cycle – more than 35 days (opsomenorrhea) and shortening – less than 21 days (proyomenorrhea).

2. Change in the duration of menstruation: shortening less than 3 days – oligomenorrhea and lengthening more than 7 days – polymenorrhea, up to persistent bleeding.

3. Change in the volume of blood loss: scanty periods or too profuse (blood clots).

4. Complete absence of menstruation for more than six months – amenorrhea.

5. Painful menstruation – algomenorrhea.

6. Irregular menstruation and intermenstrual bleeding.

6 reasons for menstrual irregularities

1. Physiological disorders of the menstrual cycle can be observed: during the formation of menstrual function (11-15 years), in menopause (45-50 years), as well as during pregnancy (normally amenorrhea ) and lactation.

Due to hormonal changes during these periods, all of the above menstrual irregularities are possible, which gradually returns to normal or stops altogether in postmenopausal women.

2. One of the main reasons is the violation of the neurohumoral regulation of menstrual function.

This disorder can occur at the level of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, uterus. Sometimes the cause is dysfunction of the thyroid, adrenal glands, or pancreas.

3.Menstrual irregularities can occur with anatomical changes and damage to the genital organs: congenital malformations, infantilism, after trauma and infection, in the presence of benign or malignant neoplasms, cervical erosion, etc.

4. Frequent causes of disruption of the normal menstrual cycle are: stress , mental and physical fatigue, strong climatic influences, unfavorable social and living conditions, etc.

Depletion or obesity, lack of vitamins, micro- and macroelements have a sharp negative effect on menstrual function.

Young girls, whose hormonal system is not yet fully formed, are especially susceptible to these factors.

5. Inflammatory processes (specific and nonspecific infectious diseases, infectious complications of abortion, trauma, surgery, sexually transmitted diseases), as well as general diseases (chronic pathology of the cardiovascular system, liver, hematopoietic system) can cause menstrual disorders ).

6.Increased harmfulness of work (exposure to certain chemicals, radiation, etc.).

Menstrual function is influenced by a whole complex of factors, and it is sometimes very difficult to find out which of them caused the disturbance.

This requires versatile diagnostics using laboratory and instrumental research methods.

But there are groups of the most striking symptoms that, with a certain degree of probability, allow one or another pathology to be suspected.

Symptoms and pathologies

Menstruation is rare, usually scanty and short or absent altogether

The disorder can occur against the background of overwork, stress, exhaustion of the body, severe inflammation, general or mental illness.

1. Concomitant symptoms: lethargy, drowsiness, decreased memory and performance, weight gain, edema, slowing heart rate, decreased body temperature.

Possible pathology: hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function).

2. Concomitant symptoms: in the past – inflammatory diseases of the uterus, abortion, surgery.

Possible pathology: insufficiency of the endometrium (uterine lining), development of synechia (adhesions) of the uterine cavity or decreased sensitivity of the uterus to hormonal influences.

3. Concomitant symptoms: severe headaches, increased blood pressure, progressive visual impairment, obesity, bluish-purple stripes on the skin (striae), increased hair growth on the face and trunk, etc.

Possible pathology: diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, ovaries, which can be a consequence of impaired blood circulation, autoimmune processes, infectious diseases, tumors, enzyme deficiency.

4. Concomitant symptoms: complaints occur at the age of 35-37 years or earlier, symptoms characteristic of menopause (hot flashes, sweating, weakness, fatigue, headaches and heart pains, pressure fluctuations, etc.) are observed.

Possible pathology: premature ovarian failure syndrome, which is often hereditary.The starting factor for development can be severe stress, infectious diseases.

5. Concomitant symptoms: menstruation irregular, sometimes absent for several months, can be painful. Overweight, increased body hair growth, acne, excessive oily skin and hair are noted.

Possible pathology: polycystic ovary disease.

Menstruation became very profuse (with clots) and prolonged

Most often (especially at a young age), the cause is hormonal disorders.

These can be violations of ovarian function (premature maturation of the egg and early ovulation, premature involution of the corpus luteum, short-term persistence of the follicle, anovulatory cycles), pathology of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, etc.

1. Concomitant symptoms: increased bleeding is observed: frequent nosebleeds, bleeding of the gums while brushing the teeth, bruises (hematomas) appear on the body easily, hemorrhages in the joint cavity, under the sclera of the eye, etc.

Possible pathology: blood diseases or increased fragility of blood vessels.

2. Concomitant symptoms: menstruation is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and lower back of varying intensity, intermenstrual and contact bleeding, often leucorrhoea. There may be soreness during sexual intercourse.

Possible pathology: endometriosis, polyps or uterine fibroids, kink, prolapse of the uterus, erosion of the cervix, inflammatory diseases (endometritis, salpingo-oophoritis).It is necessary to exclude tumors of the cervix and the body of the uterus.

Bleeding occurred suddenly against a background of delay, accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen, pallor, cold sweat, loss of consciousness is possible.

It is necessary to urgently call an ambulance, arriving doctors must be sure to inform about the previous delay.

Possible rupture of the fallopian tube against the background of a progressive ectopic pregnancy, which is usually accompanied by massive internal bleeding, shock and life threatening.

Severely painful menstruation, accompanied by disability, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stool disorders, etc.

1. Concomitant symptoms: pain appears at a young age with the arrival of the first menstruation.

Possible pathology: primary algomenorrhea. The reasons may be: abnormalities in the development of the uterus, lowering the threshold of pain sensitivity, hormonal imbalance, infantilism.

2. Concomitant symptoms: disorders occur at the age of 30-40 years.Accompanied by intermenstrual bleeding.

Possible pathology: uterine fibroids, endometriosis (especially if there are scant spotting for several days before and after menstruation).

Possible cause of menstrual irregularities in the adhesions of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis or a chronic inflammatory process.

3. Concomitant symptoms: In the first days of menstruation, diarrhea or constipation is observed.

Possible pathology: Irritable bowel syndrome, dysbiosis.

There is no menses at all and never was

1. Concomitant symptoms: age 11-15 years. Cyclically every month, there are common signs characteristic of menstruation and PMS: engorgement of the mammary glands, mood lability, weakness, etc., accompanied by pulling, pressing pain in the abdomen, in the vagina.

Possible pathology: hymen infection or vaginal atresia (false amenorrhea).

2. Concomitant symptoms: in addition to the absence of menstruation, the following are observed: malformations of the genital organs, underdevelopment of secondary female sexual characteristics or the development of male characteristics (excessive male-pattern hairiness, low voice timbre, strong development of muscle mass, etc.), often malformations of internal organs.

Possible pathology: genetic diseases (congenital adrenogenital syndrome, primary ovarian hypofunction, Morris syndrome, etc.).

What to do if you have menstrual irregularities

Any menstrual irregularity should be a reason for seeking medical help, since it may be the result of such formidable diseases as malignant tumors, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, etc.

Menstrual irregularities are often the cause of iron deficiency anemia, disability, decrease, and sometimes loss of a woman’s reproductive function.

It is a misconception that menstrual disorders should be treated only after marriage. The earlier treatment is started, the higher the likelihood of recovery and the more favorable the prognosis.

diagnostics and treatment in Kaliningrad – Nadezhda Medical Center

Dysmenorrhea (algomenorrhea) – a pathology associated with the occurrence of pain in the lower abdomen.It is noted in almost half of women during menstruation. It leads to a deterioration in well-being and a decrease in performance. Dysmenorrhea is successfully treated at our Nadezhda medical center.

Symptoms

Symptoms of dysmenorrhea are, first of all, severe pain in the lower abdomen. Weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, headaches, fever, insomnia are observed. Severe anxiety and phobias are also possible. Sometimes – violation of heart rhythms, edema, fainting, purulent vaginal discharge.The condition is cyclical, significantly reducing the quality of life, negatively affecting the woman’s well-being.

Pain is of three degrees:

• lightweight;
• moderate;
• heavy.

A severe degree is especially dangerous, causing a complete loss of working capacity within 5-7 days.

Reasons

The causes of dysmenorrhea are not exactly clear. Usually, the disease occurs when the secretion of prostaglandins in the body increases.

But among the most common phenomena that cause dysmenorrhea, there are:

• Defects formed during intrauterine development, such as a closed accessory vagina, a closed uterine horn. Blood can accumulate in these structures during menstruation, causing pain and even loss of consciousness.
• Spasmodic manifestations of the smooth muscles of the body of the uterus, provoked by impaired production and metabolism of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. These disorders are congenital or acquired.
• Hormonal imbalance, especially estrogen excess and progesterone decrease. An excess of estrogen leads to a spasm of the myometrium, as a result of which pain occurs.
• Myoma, one of the most common female diseases. The pain is cramping with it, with a feeling of heaviness.
• Endometriosis.
• Ovarian tumors.
• Incorrectly placed or misaligned spiral.
• Inflammatory process caused by varicose veins of the small pelvis.
• Infectious diseases of the reproductive organs, which include endometritis, salpingitis, adnexitis.
• Adhesions in the small pelvis.
• Incorrect position of the uterus.
• Puberty delay
• Genital trauma.

Dysmenorrhea is of two main forms:

1. Primary. There is no pathology of internal organs. It is noted in young nulliparous women. Caused by hormonal imbalance or stress.
2. Secondary.Pathologies of the pelvic organs are characteristic. It is observed in women after 30 years of age and has a more complex course. Provoking factors – endometriosis, ovarian tumors, inflammation of the genitourinary system, etc., as a result of which there was a violation of the menstrual cycle.

Diagnostics

Through the diagnosis of dysmenorrhea, carried out by our doctors with the use of modern equipment, it is possible to find out the exact cause of the pain. Symptoms, age of the patient, and typical complaints must be taken into account.A thorough gynecological examination of the patient is carried out. The most reliable laboratory methods of research, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, vaginal smear, MRI. Additional examination of the cardiovascular, genitourinary and nervous systems is possible.

Treatment

Regardless of the cause of the disease and age, dysmenorrhea must be treated in order to alleviate the general condition of the woman. The treatment of dysmenorrhea, carried out by us, involves the use of a variety of techniques.The goal of primary dysmenorrhea therapy is to block the action of prostaglandins. Conservative treatment is designed to relieve pain as well as eliminate its cause. For this purpose, analgesics, antispasmodics, vitamin complexes are prescribed. The most effective drugs include aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, etc. Combined oral contraceptives are effective.

Also assigned:

• massage;
• acupuncture;
• electrophoresis;
• physiotherapy exercises.

As an accompanying measure, we recommend relaxing baths with extracts of lemon balm, mint, pine needles, which have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. To stabilize the central nervous system, a course of 10-15 baths is enough. To improve blood supply to organs, normalize the tone of blood and lymphatic vessels, and normalize metabolism, ultratonotherapy is suitable. Electrical stimulation of the cervical canal is aimed at regulating the function of the nervous and endocrine systems. As a result, peripheral receptors are activated and reflex reactions are triggered.With a strong deterioration in the patient’s mental state, it is advisable to attend psychotherapy sessions, individual or group.

In difficult situations, an operation is performed, for example, in acute endometriosis.

Prevention

The main measures for the prevention of dysmenorrhea:

• rational sleep and nutrition;

90,025 stress avoidance;

90,025 abortion refusal;

• restriction of bad habits;
• reduction in physical activity during menstruation.

If you have dysmenorrhea, contact us. We will carry out a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of the disease, as well as advise on its prevention.

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