Diarrhea during period: Causes, treatment, and more

Women may experience a range of symptoms before and during their period. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal issues are common symptoms of menstruation.

Here, we look at why having a period can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. We also provide tips on how to ease painful symptoms, and when to see a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Share on PinterestAn increase in the production of prostaglandins in the body during a period may cause diarrhea.

Some people may experience diarrhea during or before their period. This is likely due to an increase in the production of prostaglandins in the body.

Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemicals that assist certain functions in the body, including:

• muscle contractions
• blood vessel dilation and constriction
• blood clotting

Before a period starts, cells in the lining of the uterus increase production of prostaglandins. This increase in prostaglandins causes the uterus muscles to contract, thereby releasing the lining of the uterus. This is what a female experiences as her period.

The more prostaglandins the body makes during menstruation, the more the uterus will contract. As such, excess production of prostaglandins can cause menstrual cramps and pain.

When prostaglandin levels are high, some prostaglandins may enter the bloodstream. They can then travel to various parts of the body, including the bowels.

The bowels have a smooth lining of muscle, similar to the uterus. High levels of prostaglandins can cause the bowels to contract and release their contents, resulting in diarrhea.

Excess prostaglandins can also cause other period-related symptoms, including:

• headaches
• nausea
• vomiting

Apart from causing pain and discomfort, excessive amounts of prostaglandins do not cause any health risks.

Changes in prostaglandin levels can also cause other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms during a period.

A 2014 study of healthy premenopausal women investigated the GI and emotional symptoms some people experience before and during their period.

Of the 156 participants, 73% experienced at least one GI symptom before or during a period. Abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most common. Participants also experienced:

• bloating
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• pelvic pain

Women who experienced emotional symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, were more likely to report multiple GI symptoms.

A 2013 study compared premenstrual GI symptoms in people with and without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The researchers found that people with IBD experienced more frequent premenstrual GI symptoms. However, their IBD symptoms did not change significantly over the course of the menstrual cycle.

In contrast, people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience a worsening of bloating, abdominal pain, and other IBS symptoms during their period, according to an article in Gastroenterology Report.

Endometriosis is where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis can occur in the following areas:

• ovaries
• fallopian tubes
• area around the uterus
• vagina
• cervix
• bladder
• bowel
• rectum

According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, GI symptoms are a very common feature of endometriosis. The symptoms typically worsen during menstruation, and may include:

• diarrhea
• intestinal cramping
• constipation
• painful bowel movements
• bloating
• nausea

Other symptoms of endometriosis include:

• painful menstrual cramping
• persistent pain in the lower back and pelvis
• stomach or intestinal pain
• pain during bowel movements or urination during a period
• blood in stools or urine
• deep-feeling pain during or after sex
• bleeding or spotting in between periods
• infertility

If people suspect endometriosis is causing diarrhea and other menstrual symptoms, they should see their doctor for a diagnosis.

People can take steps to treat diarrhea and other menstrual symptoms at home. We outline some tips below.

Treating diarrhea

Some general tips for easing diarrhea include:

• Drinking plenty of fluids: This is important for preventing dehydration. People should drink throughout the day, and should drink an extra cup of water after each bout of diarrhea.
• Consuming a liquid diet: This helps to rest the bowels. People can try drinking weak tea, apple juice, or clear broth.
• Eating smaller meals more frequently: This can make food easier for the body to digest.
• Eating foods high in pectin: Pectin is a water-soluble fiber that can help to reduce diarrhea. Foods that are high in pectin include applesauce, bananas, and yogurt.
• Replacing electrolytes: Diarrhea can deplete levels of potassium and other electrolytes in the body. People can replace electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, fruit juices, or coconut water. Good food sources of potassium include bananas, and potatoes with the skin.
• Eating salty foods: Salty foods, such as crackers, pretzels, and soups, help to replace lost sodium. This, in turn, helps the body retain more water.

People should also avoid foods and drinks that can irritate the digestive tract and worsen diarrhea. Examples include:

• caffeine
• alcohol
• carbonated drinks
• foods that are very hot or very cold
• high-fat, greasy foods
• milk products
• tobacco
• marijuana

Treating other menstrual symptoms

Below are several dietary and lifestyle tips that could help to alleviate GI symptoms and other menstrual symptoms.

• Exercising regularly: Keep up regular exercise throughout the month, especially aerobic activity that raises the heart rate.
• Avoiding certain ingredients: Avoiding foods and drinks that contain caffeine, salt, or sugar for 2 weeks before a period may help to reduce PMS symptoms.
• Getting a good nights sleep: Ensure regular, good-quality sleep, and aim for 8 hours each night. This may help to alleviate mood-related menstrual symptoms.
• Reducing stress and anxiety: Activities such as yoga, meditation, and journaling may help to ease stress-related GI symptoms.
• Avoiding smoking: People should avoid smoking. According to the Office On Women’s Health, smoking may increase the severity and frequency of pre-menstrual symptoms. Learn more about quitting smoking here.

People should see their doctor if they experience any of the following:

• diarrhea lasting more than 2 days
• blood in the stools, which may indicate an infection or other underlying health condition
• severe physical or psychological symptoms before or during periods, which may indicate an underlying health condition

People should also see a doctor or other healthcare professional if they think they may have endometriosis. The doctor will work to diagnose the condition and provide treatments to ease the symptoms and help prevent recurrent symptoms.

People may experience diarrhea and other GI issues before and during their period. This is usually due to an increase of prostaglandins, which can cause cramps, diarrhea, and other GI issues.

People who experience diarrhea during their period can follow standard guidelines for treating diarrhea. This includes drinking plenty of fluids, and replacing lost electrolytes.

Severe symptoms during or before a period can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition. People should take note of their symptoms, and schedule an appointment with their doctor or gynecologist.

These health professionals will work to diagnose the cause of the symptoms, and provide appropriate treatments.

Diarrhea during period: Causes, treatment, and more

Women may experience a range of symptoms before and during their period. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal issues are common symptoms of menstruation.

Here, we look at why having a period can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. We also provide tips on how to ease painful symptoms, and when to see a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Share on PinterestAn increase in the production of prostaglandins in the body during a period may cause diarrhea.

Some people may experience diarrhea during or before their period. This is likely due to an increase in the production of prostaglandins in the body.

Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemicals that assist certain functions in the body, including:

• muscle contractions
• blood vessel dilation and constriction
• blood clotting

Before a period starts, cells in the lining of the uterus increase production of prostaglandins. This increase in prostaglandins causes the uterus muscles to contract, thereby releasing the lining of the uterus. This is what a female experiences as her period.

The more prostaglandins the body makes during menstruation, the more the uterus will contract. As such, excess production of prostaglandins can cause menstrual cramps and pain.

When prostaglandin levels are high, some prostaglandins may enter the bloodstream. They can then travel to various parts of the body, including the bowels.

The bowels have a smooth lining of muscle, similar to the uterus. High levels of prostaglandins can cause the bowels to contract and release their contents, resulting in diarrhea.

Excess prostaglandins can also cause other period-related symptoms, including:

• headaches
• nausea
• vomiting

Apart from causing pain and discomfort, excessive amounts of prostaglandins do not cause any health risks.

Changes in prostaglandin levels can also cause other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms during a period.

A 2014 study of healthy premenopausal women investigated the GI and emotional symptoms some people experience before and during their period.

Of the 156 participants, 73% experienced at least one GI symptom before or during a period. Abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most common. Participants also experienced:

• bloating
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• pelvic pain

Women who experienced emotional symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, were more likely to report multiple GI symptoms.

A 2013 study compared premenstrual GI symptoms in people with and without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The researchers found that people with IBD experienced more frequent premenstrual GI symptoms. However, their IBD symptoms did not change significantly over the course of the menstrual cycle.

In contrast, people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience a worsening of bloating, abdominal pain, and other IBS symptoms during their period, according to an article in Gastroenterology Report.

Endometriosis is where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis can occur in the following areas:

• ovaries
• fallopian tubes
• area around the uterus
• vagina
• cervix
• bladder
• bowel
• rectum

According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, GI symptoms are a very common feature of endometriosis. The symptoms typically worsen during menstruation, and may include:

• diarrhea
• intestinal cramping
• constipation
• painful bowel movements
• bloating
• nausea

Other symptoms of endometriosis include:

• painful menstrual cramping
• persistent pain in the lower back and pelvis
• stomach or intestinal pain
• pain during bowel movements or urination during a period
• blood in stools or urine
• deep-feeling pain during or after sex
• bleeding or spotting in between periods
• infertility

If people suspect endometriosis is causing diarrhea and other menstrual symptoms, they should see their doctor for a diagnosis.

People can take steps to treat diarrhea and other menstrual symptoms at home. We outline some tips below.

Treating diarrhea

Some general tips for easing diarrhea include:

• Drinking plenty of fluids: This is important for preventing dehydration. People should drink throughout the day, and should drink an extra cup of water after each bout of diarrhea.
• Consuming a liquid diet: This helps to rest the bowels. People can try drinking weak tea, apple juice, or clear broth.
• Eating smaller meals more frequently: This can make food easier for the body to digest.
• Eating foods high in pectin: Pectin is a water-soluble fiber that can help to reduce diarrhea. Foods that are high in pectin include applesauce, bananas, and yogurt.
• Replacing electrolytes: Diarrhea can deplete levels of potassium and other electrolytes in the body. People can replace electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, fruit juices, or coconut water. Good food sources of potassium include bananas, and potatoes with the skin.
• Eating salty foods: Salty foods, such as crackers, pretzels, and soups, help to replace lost sodium. This, in turn, helps the body retain more water.

People should also avoid foods and drinks that can irritate the digestive tract and worsen diarrhea. Examples include:

• caffeine
• alcohol
• carbonated drinks
• foods that are very hot or very cold
• high-fat, greasy foods
• milk products
• tobacco
• marijuana

Treating other menstrual symptoms

Below are several dietary and lifestyle tips that could help to alleviate GI symptoms and other menstrual symptoms.

• Exercising regularly: Keep up regular exercise throughout the month, especially aerobic activity that raises the heart rate.
• Avoiding certain ingredients: Avoiding foods and drinks that contain caffeine, salt, or sugar for 2 weeks before a period may help to reduce PMS symptoms.
• Getting a good nights sleep: Ensure regular, good-quality sleep, and aim for 8 hours each night. This may help to alleviate mood-related menstrual symptoms.
• Reducing stress and anxiety: Activities such as yoga, meditation, and journaling may help to ease stress-related GI symptoms.
• Avoiding smoking: People should avoid smoking. According to the Office On Women’s Health, smoking may increase the severity and frequency of pre-menstrual symptoms. Learn more about quitting smoking here.

People should see their doctor if they experience any of the following:

• diarrhea lasting more than 2 days
• blood in the stools, which may indicate an infection or other underlying health condition
• severe physical or psychological symptoms before or during periods, which may indicate an underlying health condition

People should also see a doctor or other healthcare professional if they think they may have endometriosis. The doctor will work to diagnose the condition and provide treatments to ease the symptoms and help prevent recurrent symptoms.

People may experience diarrhea and other GI issues before and during their period. This is usually due to an increase of prostaglandins, which can cause cramps, diarrhea, and other GI issues.

People who experience diarrhea during their period can follow standard guidelines for treating diarrhea. This includes drinking plenty of fluids, and replacing lost electrolytes.

Severe symptoms during or before a period can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition. People should take note of their symptoms, and schedule an appointment with their doctor or gynecologist.

These health professionals will work to diagnose the cause of the symptoms, and provide appropriate treatments.

PMS symptoms – 10 signs of early menstruation

PMS symptoms, known as premenstrual syndrome, appear 5-14 days before the onset of menstruation. Here are 10 main signs that a woman experiences during this period. Most of them you can handle at home. But if the manifestations are too active and affect your life, interfere with you, be sure to discuss this with your gynecologist.

More than 90 percent of women experience PMS symptoms to some degree. Usually they pass in the first two days after the onset of menstruation. We publish the 10 most common signs of approaching menstruation.

PMS symptoms

Abdominal cramps

This medical condition is called dysmenorrhea. Cramping may begin on the eve of your period and continue into the first few days of your cycle. The degree of soreness varies from mild to severe, and some even need time off to survive the pain. Cramping is usually felt in the lower abdomen. But soreness can radiate to the lower back and upper thighs.

Pain caused by contraction of the uterus. They help shed the lining of the uterus (endometrium) when pregnancy does not occur. These contractions are triggered by prostaglandins, which regulate ovulation.

There are diseases that cause severe pain during PMS. These include:

• endometriosis
• cervical stenosis
• adenomyosis
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• myoma

If you have a history of any of these conditions, you are diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea.

Pimples

Approximately half of women note the appearance of pimples among the symptoms of PMS about a week before the onset of menstruation. They usually appear on the chin and jawline, but can appear anywhere else.

This is due to natural hormonal changes associated with the reproductive cycle. If pregnancy does not occur at ovulation, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease, and androgen levels, such as testosterone, increase slightly. Androgens are responsible for the production of subcutaneous fat produced by the sebaceous glands. If there is an excess of fat, acne appears. They usually go away by the end of your period, when estrogen and progesterone levels begin to rise.

Breast augmentation

In the middle of your cycle after ovulation, progesterone levels begin to rise, which causes your breasts to increase in size and swell. The symptom of PMS is expressed in different ways. Someone has a slight increase, and someone notes the heaviness of the breast, the appearance of lumps and discomfort. If you belong to the second type, you need to contact a mammologist for advice and treatment.

Fatigue

As your period approaches, your body switches from preparing for pregnancy to preparing for your period. Hormonal levels plummet, causing the PMS symptom of fatigue. Many are sad, nothing can cheer them up. Women during this period often experience problems with sleep, do not rest at night, and because of this, daytime fatigue increases.

Bloating

As you prepare for your period, your body’s levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone change, causing your body to retain more water and salt than normal. In this case, you often see an increase in weight up to 2 kg. Symptoms disappear on the first day of the onset of menstruation.

Gut Problems

Because we are so dependent on changing hormones, our gut is no exception. Prostaglandins that cause uterine contractions can also cause contractions in the intestines. You may notice frequent urination and additionally experience the following PMS symptoms:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• increased gas formation
• constipation

Headache can be a symptom of PMS

In our body pain is caused by serotonin. Estrogen, which rises during PMS, increases serotonin levels. It is this interaction that causes headaches and migraines.

Moreover, pain can occur both before, during and after menstruation. Clinical studies show that migraine is 1.8 times more common one to two days before the onset of menstruation and 2.5 times more common in the first days of menstruation than on other days of the month.

Mood swings

For many, the emotional symptoms of PMS cause more discomfort than the physical symptoms. Women may experience:

• mood swings
• depression
• irritability
• anxiety

All the fluctuations of the same hormones are to blame.

Low back pain

Contraction of the uterus under the influence of the release of prostaglandins may also cause contractions of the muscles of the lower back. Women may experience pain and a pulling aching sensation in the lower back.

Sleep problems

PMS symptoms such as bloating, headache, tearfulness and depression can make it difficult to fall asleep and generally affect your sleep. Also, sleep is affected by body temperature, which rises by about half a degree and lasts until the onset of menstruation. Healthy sleep occurs at a lower temperature.

Treatment of symptoms of PMS

Depending on the severity, various therapeutic assistance is prescribed for a woman to relieve symptoms. The help of a doctor is usually required by severe migraines, indigestion, endometriosis, severe pelvic pain.

In some cases, the gynecologist will prescribe birth control pills to regulate hormone levels. They prevent natural ovulation by providing a constant stable level of hormones for three weeks.

You can relieve PMS symptoms at home:

• reduce your salt intake
• take painkillers
• use dry heat on the abdomen to relieve spasm
• Eat small meals during this period to maintain stable blood sugar levels
• take calcium

Be healthy! And remember that with any problems you can always contact us.

why does this happen and is it normal

Author Elena Polyakova

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Diarrhea before menstruation and diarrhea during menstruation – is this normal or should I see a doctor? Many women are worried about this topic, because almost every representative of the weaker sex faces diarrhea before and during menstruation. Now we will understand why intestinal disorders often occur in women before menstruation and what should be done to improve the condition.

The origin of the phenomenon

Let’s give some statistics. Approximately 51% of women before menstruation (usually 12 hours before them) have diarrhea, the lower abdomen begins to hurt – if you do not take action, this condition will last 1-2 days. In 79% of women, on the first day of menstruation, diarrhea occurs, the stomach hurts, but the next day the bowel function returns to normal, the pain disappears. Approximately 21% of women suffer from prolonged diarrhea during menstruation, they have severe pain (or twisting) of the stomach – this begins before menstruation and lasts for 3-4 days, almost until the end of menstruation.

Why does diarrhea occur, why does the stomach start to hurt during menstruation? The natural cause (not associated with diseases) is as follows:

1. Almost all women experience discomfort before menstruation and in the first days of menstruation. Only someone has a very tolerable pulling feeling or slight pain, while others have excruciating spasms. Why is there any discomfort at all? The reason is that during menstruation, the uterus begins to contract, “pushing out” the tissues that have served their purpose and replacing them with new ones. With spasm, a reflex compression of a neighboring organ, the intestine, can occur, which makes the stomach hurt more, and there is a strong urge to go to the toilet.
2. Before the onset of menstruation, the level of the hormone prostaglandin in a woman’s blood rises. The hormone provokes contraction of the uterus and smooth muscles of the intestine. There is severe diarrhea. Changes in the hormonal background can also affect the change in the consistency of feces.
3. Diarrhea may appear before menstruation due to an increase in the concentration of another hormone – serotonin. The surge is not observed in all women, but only in the parasympathetic type. Symptoms of elevated serotonin levels are: a decrease in heart rate during menstruation, the appearance of nausea, and a decrease in body temperature. The woman herself is prone to fullness, her periods often come with slight delays.
4. During menstruation, blood circulation in the pelvic organs increases, these organs begin to work in an accelerated mode, which is why peristalsis accelerates in the intestines.
5. Due to a hormonal surge, a girl before menstruation can become nervous, irritable. This provokes the so-called “neurological diarrhea” associated with emotional instability.

Ways to improve your condition

Why not panic? If during menstruation diarrhea is moderate, and the stomach hurts quite tolerably, then this is normal. You just need to take steps to improve the situation. Since the situation returns to normal after a couple of days, it is better to refrain from taking the pills. You can try a special diet on the day of menstruation, which will be useful for women during such a period. The diet involves the use of the following products: rice, buckwheat, meat broth, boiled chicken meat, strong tea, coffee without milk, cottage cheese, dried white bread, oatmeal, bananas. The listed products will help fix the stool, eliminate diarrhea.

If a woman has severe diarrhea, you can try a strong decoction of St. John’s wort, oak bark, chamomile, yarrow. True, herbal decoctions act slowly, which is why you will have to stay at home when treating with such herbal remedies. If this is not possible, you can take a pill – not a laxative, but an antispasmodic like No-shpa (after all, it is cramps during menstruation that provoke diarrhea). In addition, antispasmodics will make the stomach stop hurting. This will greatly facilitate the condition of the woman.

When to worry

Periodic diarrhea is not always harmless. Sometimes diarrhea is due to serious illness. Alarming “calls” are the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea lasts longer than 4 days, continues after the end of menstruation.
• Diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, dizziness, migraines, fainting. The abdomen hurts a lot when it is touched and at rest.
• Diarrhea began a couple of days before the period should come, but the period itself did not come on time (there is a delay during which the diarrhea does not stop).

Why do the listed symptoms appear? The reasons for diarrhea, nausea, delays can be different – it can be the following: intestinal infections, inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, endometriosis, etc. Delayed menstruation, nausea and diarrhea are also sometimes signs of pregnancy.