How to Get Rid Of Diarrhea During Your Period

See your health care provider if your diarrhea starts to affect your daily life or if your symptoms don’t go away. Make sure to contact your health care provider immediately if you have one of the following symptoms: your stools are bloody or black, you become dehydrated, you have a fever, or you have severe abdominal or rectal pain. Your health care provider may do the following tests to rule out other medical problems:

• Physical exam
• Gynecological exam
• Complete blood count
• Blood tests 
• Colonoscopy

The severity of your symptoms may be linked to your period. Although diarrhea can occur before your period, many people find that their symptoms get worse when they have their period. For some, their bodies are more reactive to food in the days during menstruation, particularly gassy foods.

Is diarrhea a period symptom?

Some people find that symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, and constipation get worse during the days immediately after ovulation. Others report that they have an increase in the severity of these symptoms during their period. 

Is it normal to have diarrhea on your period?

Diarrhea during your period is a common complaint. During your period, the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen as well as prostaglandins can change the behavior of the smooth muscle in your intestines. As long as it doesn’t cause such severe gastrointestinal pain that it keeps you from leaving your home, it’s typically nothing to worry about.

If you notice that your diarrhea is bloody, you should see your health care provider as soon as possible. There can be different causes of bloody stools, such as trauma, infectious diseases, endometriosis, and a tumor.

Causes of diarrhea during period

Medical researchers don’t yet fully understand the exact reasons why diarrhea occurs during your period. The most likely cause is prostaglandins, which are chemicals released during your period that affect the contractions of smooth muscles in the uterus and the intestines. They send a “squeeze” message to your bowels and can sometimes go into overdrive. 

How to treat diarrhea on period

Some of the things you can do to manage diarrhea during your period include:

• Eating foods rich in soluble fiber like bananas, peeled apples, and oats
• Staying well hydrated by drinking a lot of fluids
• Taking medication that relieves menstrual symptoms
• Avoiding foods that are highly insoluble, like whole grains, broccoli, and other high-fiber vegetables

Why You Get Diarrhea, Constipation (or Both) During Your Period – Cleveland Clinic

At certain times around your period, do you get constipation, bloating, diarrhea or all of the above?

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Many women have mild, manageable digestive distress related to their menstrual cycle. For others, it’s more severe. Regardless of your symptoms, there are steps you can take to manage them — or possibly avoid them altogether.

How do hormones cause constipation or diarrhea?

Some abdominal symptoms you experience around your period aren’t related to your digestive system at all.

Hormones your body releases during menstruation may cause bloating, water retention and abdominal cramping. Prostaglandins, or fatty acids, cause inflammation. This bloating and cramping may feel like it’s in your stomach, but it’s actually in the uterus.

Family medicine physician Donald Ford, MD, says a buildup of the hormone progesterone can cause constipation. This hormone is responsible for the growth and thickening of the uterine walls, and it peaks right before ovulation.

“This promotes constipation and it tends to come around ovulation or a couple of days after,” he says.

Diarrhea can happen when prostaglandins begin to relax smooth muscle tissues as menstruation begins.

“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.”

What’s the best way to treat your uncomfortable belly?

1. Keep your diet clean. The first line of defense for these issues is a healthy diet, Dr. Ford says.

“Eat healthy food and get plenty of natural fiber,” he 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 as a mainstay for maintaining regular bowel habits.

2. Try medication if you like. If eating well doesn’t do the trick, over-the-counter medications are sometimes helpful.

Dr. Ford says laxatives are sometimes harsh, so he recommends taking a gentle brand like MiraLAX® or stool softeners to relieve constipation. You can take these as needed to reduce your symptoms.

If your constipation is more chronic, prescription medications like linaclotide or lubiprostone can sometimes offer an effective solution, Dr. Ford says. These work best when taken regularly.

3. Consider oral contraceptives. Your doctor may also recommend oral contraceptives that reduce the frequency of your periods. If you are 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.

a Q&A with the makers of Cara

Your digestion and stool (poop) are both influenced by your menstrual cycle. Not only that, but the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle are influenced by your gut. Cara is a free digestion-tracking app (available for iOS and Android) for discovering patterns between your nutrition and your symptoms. We had a chat with Jesaja Brinkmann, Cara’s co-founder, to find out more about the cycle and digestion.

So, is “period poop” a thing?

When people talk about periods and their effects on the body, you’re more likely to hear about mood swings and chocolate cravings, but digestion in particular suffers during this time. Even though no one really likes to talk about “period poop”–the fact is, abdominal bloating and diarrhea around the time of your period is a thing for some people. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) tend to have aggravated gastrointestinal symptoms, leading up to and during their period. But most people don’t know about the link between their period and stool. Users of Cara have tracked increased diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating during their period. Let’s face it. Period poop is a thing!

Why do people get diarrhea around the time of their period?

During menstruation, your body releases chemical-messengers called prostaglandins, which stimulate your uterus to contract, which helps encourage the shedding of the uterine lining (the period). These prostaglandins are suggested to be responsible for increasing gastrointestinal side effects around this time, by having an effect on the nearby intestinal tissue (1).

Not everyone may notice this shift in stool patterns. One study found that around 50% of people with IBS or other bowel disorders experience a change in bowel habits around the time of their period. In comparison, only a third of women without bowel symptoms experienced a bowel change (2). This means that not everybody experiences period poop, but if someone already has bowel issues, they may be more likely to have changes in bowel habits around menstruation (1,2).

Do digestive issues like IBS fluctuate with the menstrual cycle?

Yes, our app users with IBS report a significant increase of abdominal pain and diarrhea while on their period. However, even people without digestive illnesses experience increased gastrointestinal issues during their premenstrual or menstrual phase.

Do you have any tips for preventing premenstrual bloating?

The majority of premenstrual cravings tend to be for types of foods which can exacerbate bloating and digestive issues, like chocolate bars or french fries. Besides sweet and greasy food, sparkling and soft drinks will worsen bloating. Food that generally causes bloating, such as beans, cabbage, or lentils should be eaten in moderation. Large amounts of food are challenging for your stomach and intestine—distension and bloating are the most obvious result.

If you usually experience these symptoms, changing your eating habits may help you to feel better. If bloating is still causing you stress, tea mixtures of fennel, caraway, and anise tend to have a further calming effect on your intestines (3).

Why track digestion?

Tracking your digestion can help you to keep an overview of your gastrointestinal symptoms and stool consistency. Reporting symptoms to your healthcare provider from memory often does not end up reflecting the true condition of your health. Tracking your diet and symptoms daily and over a longer period helps you and your healthcare provider analyze patterns. When are symptoms worse? Is there a relation between your menstrual cycle, levels of stress, and eating habits?

When you track, this can improve the advice your healthcare provider is able to offer. Since every person is different, tracking is essential to get the best insight into your specific symptoms. As soon as you have analyzed your patterns, you can anticipate at which point of your cycle you can expect diarrhea or abdominal pain, and take steps to ease your symptoms. If you continue tracking while adjusting your eating habits or physical activity, you’ll get immediate feedback as to whether these changes actually improve your symptoms. Tracking can help you take control of your intestinal issues.

When to see your healthcare provider

Every body is different. Variations in your cycle and body are normal and healthy. It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider when you notice something that’s unusual for you personally, or if you experience a change in bowel habits, pain, or distress. Gastrointestinal infections and food poisoning can also cause dramatic changes in bowel habits, so be sure to seek help if needed.

You can learn more about Cara here, and read their blog about digestive issues (in German).

Download Clue to learn how your digestion and stool are affected by your menstrual cycle.

Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women

BMC Womens Health. 2014; 14: 14.

,¹,²,³,³,³ and ¹

Matthew T Bernstein

¹Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Lesley A Graff

²Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, PZ350 – 771 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N4, Canada

Lisa Avery

³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Carrie Palatnick

³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Katie Parnerowski

³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Laura E Targownik

¹Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

¹Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

²Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, PZ350 – 771 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N4, Canada

³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Corresponding author.

Received 2013 Jan 31; Accepted 2014 Jan 21.

Copyright © 2014 Bernstein et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract

Background

Little is known as to the extent gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are reported by women around menses. We aimed to describe GI symptoms that occurred premenstrually and during menses in healthy women, and to specifically assess the relationship of emotional symptoms to GI symptoms around menses.

Methods

We recruited healthy, premenopausal adult women with no indication of GI, gynecologic, or psychiatric disease who were attending an outpatient gynecology clinic for well-woman care. They completed a survey that queried menstrual histories and the presence of GI and emotional symptoms. We compared the prevalence of primary GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting), as well as pelvic pain and bloating, in the 5 days preceding menses and during menses, and assessed whether emotional symptoms or other factors were associated with the occurrence of GI symptoms.

Results

Of 156 respondents, 73% experienced at least one of the primary GI symptoms either pre- or during menses, with abdominal pain (58% pre; 55% during) and diarrhea (24% pre; 28% during) being the most common. Those experiencing any emotional symptoms versus those without were more likely to report multiple (2 or more) primary GI symptoms, both premenstrually (depressed p = 0.006; anxiety p = 0.014) and during menses (depressed p < 0.001; anxiety p = 0.008). Fatigue was also very common (53% pre; 49% during), and was significantly associated with multiple GI symptoms in both menstrual cycle phases (pre p < 0.001; during p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Emotional symptoms occurring in conjunction with GI symptoms are common perimenstrually, and as such may reflect shared underlying processes that intersect brain, gut, and hormonal pathways.

Background

Many women describe having gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms around their menses, yet little research has been done to quantify the prevalence or nature of these symptoms, or to consider associated factors. The handful of studies that have examined the occurrence of GI symptoms in relation to menses have enquired about a narrow range of symptoms (e.g. abdominal pain, bloating) or focused on individuals with established GI disorders
[1-4]. A recent study by our group, in which women with inflammatory bowel disease were compared with a sample of healthy women on a range of upper and lower GI symptoms, found that perimenstrual GI symptoms were common both in women with and without inflammatory bowel disease
[5].

Other research has examined emotional symptoms around menses, with many reporting that mood symptoms such as depression can be exacerbated premenstrually
[6-8]. Strine et al. found that 19% of American women had menstrual complaints and those with menstrual complaints were more likely to also have mood symptoms
[9]. However, it is unknown whether women who experience emotional symptoms around menses are any more likely to have concomitant GI symptoms. There is evidence that symptoms of depression and anxiety can influence the development and severity of GI symptoms within a variety of GI conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome
[10-12]. Nevertheless, there are no studies to date which have assessed whether there is a relationship between mood and GI symptoms around menses in women with no history of GI disease. Although physical symptoms are known to accompany premenstrual syndrome, there has been little research undertaken to document which specific physical symptoms occur, and to what extent they relate to depressive or other emotional symptoms
[13].

Our prior report
[5] focused on GI symptoms and menses in inflammatory bowel disease. In this report, we aimed to explore relationships among GI symptoms and emotional symptoms occurring in the context of menses in the cohort of healthy women. Discerning whether there is a relationship between emotional and GI symptoms at a particular point in the menstrual cycle (i.e., premenstrually and during menses) may help clarify why some are more prone to GI upset during this normal gynecological functioning. If there are interrelationships, this may provide direction for potential underlying pathways relevant to psychiatric, gastroenterological and gynecological functioning.

Methods

Participants

We recruited women from outpatient gynecology clinics in a large general hospital in Winnipeg, Canada. Individuals from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds attend these urban hospital clinics, given universal access for health care. Consecutive premenopausal women over the age of eighteen who were being seen for routine pelvic examinations and/or family counseling during a 3 month period in 2011 were invited to participate. Those with any known GI diagnoses, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, those with active gynecological illness or symptoms such as endometriosis or dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and those with known active psychiatric disorders such as depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder, were excluded. All participants completed a brief survey at the time of their clinic appointment.

All who took part were given information about the study, and provided their consent. The study was approved by the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Board.

Questionnaire and design

A questionnaire was developed to assess the range of physical and emotional symptoms that might occur specifically in conjunction with the premenstrual and menses phases. As there were no validated measures that served that purpose, items were identified based on patient reports, literature review, and expert consensus from a team of gastroenterologists, gynecologists, and clinical psychologists. Items were included that briefly queried (a) menstrual history, including age at menarche, duration of menstrual cycle, history of painful periods, and use of medicinal contraception; (b) the presence of seven common GI symptoms, of which five – abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting – were classified as primary GI symptoms. The remaining two – bloating and pelvic pain – were considered to be possibly gynecologic in origin in the context of the perimenstrual period, and thus classified as secondary GI symptoms; and (c) the presence of emotional symptoms (depressive symptoms, anxiety, ‘other’ emotional symptoms), and fatigue. The questionnaire was piloted with 20 women to assess clarity of the questions and completion time, and adjustments were made as needed based on feedback.

Participants were directed to consider their recent menstrual experiences (defined as the previous three menstrual cycles), and to report whether they had any of the GI or emotional symptoms, either in the five days before the onset of menses (pre-menstrual) and/or during menses. Since this was an exploratory study with the goal of a brief survey to readily engage participants, we did not ask more detailed questions at this point about the severity of any reported symptoms, nor did we include specific pain measures, for example. While aspects of medical history were reviewed to establish eligibility for participation, participants were not clinically evaluated regarding their medical history.

Outcomes

The main outcome of interest was the proportion of women reporting any of the specific individual gastrointestinal or emotional symptoms either prior to or during menses. We also calculated the proportion reporting 2 or more different primary gastrointestinal symptoms either prior to or during menses. Last, we stratified participants by the presence or absence of each of self-reported depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, or history of painful menses, and determined the proportion of persons within each strata who reported any individual gastrointestinal symptoms as well as those who reported 2 or more gastrointestinal symptoms.

Statistical analyses

Descriptive statistics were calculated detailing means, standard deviations, and proportions where appropriate. Differences in proportions, comparing prevalence of GI and emotional symptoms between the two menstrual phases, were assessed for statistical significance with Fisher’s exact test. Similarly, differences in proportions, comparing prevalence of GI symptoms for those with or without concurrent depressive symptoms, anxiety or fatigue, were each assessed for statistical significance using Fisher’s exact test. Finally, differences in proportions, comparing prevalence of GI symptoms for those with or without a history of painful menses, were assessed for statistical significance using Fisher’s exact test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Of the 225 women invited to participate, 89% (n = 220) proceeded with the study. Of those, 156 healthy, premenopausal women met the eligibility requirements and provided completed data (Figure 
). The participants were between the ages of 18 and 55, with a mean age of 32.3 years (standard deviation 9.9 years). The mean age at menarche was 12.9 and the mean number of days of menses was 5.2. Just over 50% reported that their menses were typically painful (Table 
).

Flow diagram of participant recruitment in the outpatient clinics.

Table 1

Respondent characteristics related to menstrual history (n = 156)

With regard to the prevalence of GI symptoms, nearly three-quarters of the sample (73%, n = 107) reported experiencing at least one of the primary GI symptoms premenstrually, and about two-thirds (69%, n = 107) reported at least one GI symptom during menses (Table 
). Thirty-one percent had multiple primary GI symptoms, either premenstrually or during menses. The prevalence of each GI symptom was similar across the two phases, with abdominal pain and diarrhea being the most common primary symptoms, and the secondary GI symptom of bloating being experienced most frequently overall. Depressive symptoms were the most common emotional symptoms reported in both the premenstrual and menses phases. A significantly higher proportion reported depressive symptoms premenstrually (32%) than during menses (21%, P = 0.028). Fatigue was fairly pronounced, with about half endorsing that symptom in either phase (53% premenstrual; 49% during menses).

Table 2

Proportion of women experiencing GI and emotional symptoms, comparing prevalence rates in premenstrual and menses phases

Symptoms	Premenstrual	During menses	p-value
Primary GI symptoms	%	%
Abdominal pain	58	55	0. 73
Diarrhea	24	28	0.44
Nausea	17	14	0.53
Constipation	15	10	0.08
Vomiting	2	3	0. 72
Any primary symptoms	73	69	0.60
Multiple (≥2) primary symptoms	31	31	1.0
Secondary GI symptoms
Bloating	62	51	0.07
Pelvic pain	49	46	0.73
Any primary or secondary GI symptoms	83	83	1.0
Mood symptoms
Depressed mood	32	21	0.028
Anxiety	15	10	0.30
Other	23	15	0.08
Any emotional symptoms	47	31	0.004
Fatigue	53	49	0.50

Tables 
,
,
and
detail the frequency of GI symptoms in relation to emotional symptoms (Tables 
and
) and fatigue (Tables 
and
), separately considering the premenstrual and menstrual phases. Women experiencing depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to also report diarrhea, both before (36% vs 19%, p = 0.028) and during menses (50% vs 23%, p = 0.004). Those with anxiety symptoms were significantly more likely to report nausea both before (38% vs 13%, p = 0.006) and during menses (44% vs 11%, p = 0.002). Overall, individuals with emotional symptoms of either depression or anxiety, or those reporting fatigue were significantly more likely to experience multiple primary GI symptoms, both prior to the onset of menses and during menses (p < 0.02 for all comparisons).

Table 3

Proportion (%) of women with GI symptoms premenstrually, comparing those with or without emotional symptoms

Table 4

Proportion (%) of women with GI symptoms during menses, comparing those with or without emotional symptoms

Table 5

Proportion (%) of women with GI symptoms premenstrually, comparing those with or without fatigue

Table 6

Proportion (%) of women with GI symptoms during menses, comparing those with or without fatigue

Participants who had a history of painful menses in general were also significantly more likely to experience primary GI symptoms. In the premenstrual phase, those with a history of painful menses were more likely to report abdominal pain (73% v 42%, p = 0.0001), diarrhea (32% v 16%, p = 0.04), and nausea (27% v 5%, p = 0.0005) than those without painful menses. In the menstrual phase, those with a history of painful menses were more likely to report abdominal pain (73% v 34%, p < 0.0001) and nausea (24% v 3%, p = 0.0001), compared to those not reporting painful menses (data not shown).

Discussion

In this study, we found the experience of one or more GI symptoms was very common for healthy women both before and during menses. Not surprisingly, abdominal pain was quite frequent, but around one-quarter of the women also experienced bowel habit disturbance in the form of diarrhea. GI symptoms occurred at a similar rate in both the premenstrual phase and during menses. However, there was a higher prevalence of depressed mood and fatigue premenstrually, compared to during menses. As well, GI symptoms occurred disproportionately more frequently with depressive or anxious emotional symptoms than when those were not present, both prior to and during menses. This significant co-occurrence was also observed for fatigue.

Studies that have assessed the prevalence of various GI symptoms perimenstrually have generally concluded that GI symptoms were more common for those with GI disorders than for healthy women
[1,3,14,15]. It was evident in our study that GI symptoms were quite prevalent for healthy women as well, as over 70% experienced GI symptoms in conjunction with their menstrual cycle, even when potential gynecological symptoms such as bloating were excluded. Some studies focused just on menses, and when they included more than one phase, they tended to report more frequent GI symptoms during menses than other phases
[3,15], although one of these studies reported on intensity but not the prevalence of GI symptoms
[15]. Other prospective studies described abdominal pain, nausea, and bloating as the predominant GI symptoms, and found they tended to increase just before and during menstruation
[1,16,17] consistent with our findings of a similar rate of GI symptom occurrence across the premenstrual and menses phases.

Bowel habit changes have not been as readily addressed, but Kane and colleagues
[14] described equivalent rates of diarrhea (20%) and constipation (20%) premenstrually, and lower rates of altered bowel habit during menses (diarrhea 10%; constipation 2%) in their sample of healthy women. Two studies found that approximately one third of women experienced bowel habit changes during menses, with diarrhea being more common
[1,4]. We also found diarrhea (24-28%) to be more common than constipation (10-15%), regardless of the menses phase. The lower rates for the Kane study might relate to their recruitment approach as they posted ads on a university campus, whereas the other studies, including ours, recruited from outpatient clinics offering routine gynecological care.

There has been little work to examine potential predictors of GI symptoms in relation to menses. Our exploratory study identified that depressed mood, anxiety and fatigue were each significantly more likely to be associated with primary GI symptoms. Similarly, women who had a history of painful menses were also more likely to experience GI symptoms perimenstrually. Previous work assessing the relationship between GI symptoms and both enduring personality traits and acute psychological symptoms with GI symptoms during menstruation did not find any significant relationship
[1]. In that study, women who reported their GI symptoms were exacerbated during their menses did not differ in their psychological profiles from women who did not report these symptoms
[1]. Keisner and colleagues reported a significant association between premenstrual depressive symptoms and a number of physical symptoms, of which GI symptoms were included
[13].

Depression, pain, and gut motility may share similar pathophysiological mechanisms including serotonin as an important neurotransmitter mediating those symptoms
[1]. A study that found women in the late luteal phase experienced reduced pain tolerance, using a cold pressor test, provides some evidence for somatic neural changes related to the timing within the cycle
[18]. There has also been consideration of the effect of hormonal activity in local tissue, with a recent study suggesting that physical symptoms, including GI symptoms, may indicate sensitivity to reproductive steroids, and that concurrent psychological symptoms may reflect neurological sensitivity to these steroids, at a peak point in the menstrual cycle
[19]. Prostaglandins may provide another pathophysiological link to understand the overlap between menstrual pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. Premenstrually, uterine prostaglandin production may mediate an inflammatory response characterized by pain, and during menses abnormally high levels of prostaglandins in menstrual fluid may induce abnormal uterine contractions and pain
[17,20]. In the gut, prostaglandins can cause smooth muscle contractions, as well as reduced absorption and induced secretion of electrolytes in the small bowel, all of which may enhance gastrointestinal pain and diarrhea
[21]. It is not known whether uterine prostaglandins are transported to the gut, or whether parallel changes in uterine and GI smooth muscle prostaglandin levels occur during menses
[17]. Further study will be necessary to determine pathophysiological mechanisms for mood changes within the cycle as well and the direction of the relationship of these changes between brain and GI function.

While these findings are preliminary, they suggest that clinicians should be aware of the heightened potential for co-occurring gastrointestinal and emotional symptoms perimenstrually, and could consider providing information to their patients to help normalize the experience. If the GI symptoms become troubling or problematic, it may be useful to consider prophylactic steps to alleviate the symptoms through use of medication or behavioral approaches, parallel to the approach used to manage gynecological symptoms during menses (e.g., analgesic medication for dysmenorrhea).

There are limitations to the study. It was exploratory in nature, aiming to assess the presence of GI and emotional symptoms perimenstrually using participant observation, with minimal participant burden. There were no validated scales that included all the symptoms of interest, so a brief history and symptom measure was developed for the study. This had the benefit of assessing the variables of interest using the same response scale, for ready comparison. However, the validity of the symptom measure was not established, and further, the duration and severity of symptoms could not be determined as the measure simply assessed presence/absence of symptoms. Subsequent investigation of potentially relevant variables identified in this preliminary study, such as depression, anxiety, and pain, should include validated measures. Second, participants reported their perimenstrual symptoms retrospectively, which increases the likelihood of recall bias. Nevertheless, it was a relatively brief recall period of the recent 3 ‘samples’ of their cycle, and it has been shown that asking about very recent events helps to minimize recall bias
[22]. In addition, the cross-sectional design of the study did not allow for any conclusions regarding direction of influence. A prospective approach using daily symptom diaries would be optimal for future studies. Finally, though we specifically recruited healthy premenopausal women, the experiences of healthy women presenting for care in a gynecology clinic may not be broadly generalizable to premenstrual women, many of whom do not seek or have access to regular gynecologic care.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the occurrence of GI symptoms in conjunction with the premenstrual and menses phases is fairly common, and is disproportionately more likely if there are also accompanying emotional symptoms. These co-occurring experiences may reflect underlying common mechanisms which can provide direction for symptom relief. Given the exploratory nature of the study, prospective work tracking GI and emotional symptom severity in the context of the menses phases will be important as a next step. It will be useful to discern whether GI symptoms contribute to the mood disorder that affects many women prior to and during menses or alternatively, whether depressive and anxiety symptoms are predominately impacting on GI symptoms, as these relationships may have implications for managing the symptoms therapeutically.

Competing interests

Laura E Targownik is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award. The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

MT was involved in the concept, design, data acquisition, analyses and interpretation of data, manuscript draft preparation, and revisions for critical content. LG was involved in the concept, design, analyses and interpretation of data, manuscript draft and revisions for critical content. LA was involved in the concept, design, data acquisition, manuscript draft preparation and revisions for critical content. CP was involved in the data acquisition, analyses and interpretation of data, manuscript draft preparation and revisions for critical content. KP was involved in the data acquisition, manuscript draft preparation and revisions for critical content. LT was involved in the analyses and interpretation of data, manuscript draft and revisions for critical content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

There were no external funds used to support this study.

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• Keisner J. Physical characteristics of the menstrual cycle and premenstrual depressive symptoms. Psychol Sci. 2009;20:763–770. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02358.x. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
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Period Pain | Menstrual Cramps

What are painful periods?

Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that happens as part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Many women have painful periods, also called dysmenorrhea. The pain is most often menstrual cramps, which are a throbbing, cramping pain in your lower abdomen. You may also have other symptoms, such as lower back pain, nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. Period pain is not the same as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS causes many different symptoms, including weight gain, bloating, irritability, and fatigue. PMS often starts one to two weeks before your period starts.

What causes painful periods?

There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Each type has different causes.

Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common kind of period pain. It is period pain that is not caused by another condition. The cause is usually having too many prostaglandins, which are chemicals that your uterus makes. These chemicals make the muscles of your uterus tighten and relax, and this causes the cramps.

The pain can start a day or two before your period. It normally lasts for a few days, though in some women it can last longer.

You usually first start having period pain when you are younger, just after you begin getting periods. Often, as you get older, you have less pain. The pain may also get better after you have given birth.

Secondary dysmenorrhea often starts later in life. It is caused by conditions that affect your uterus or other reproductive organs, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. This kind of pain often gets worse over time. It may begin before your period starts and continue after your period ends.

What can I do about period pain?

To help ease your period pain, you can try

• Using a heating pad or hot water bottle on your lower abdomen
• Getting some exercise
• Taking a hot bath
• Doing relaxation techniques, including yoga and meditation

You might also try taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen. Besides relieving pain, NSAIDs reduce the amount of prostaglandins that your uterus makes and lessen their effects. This helps to lessen the cramps. You can take NSAIDs when you first have symptoms, or when your period starts. You can keep taking them for a few days. You should not take NSAIDS if you have ulcers or other stomach problems, bleeding problems, or liver disease. You should also not take them if you are allergic to aspirin. Always check with your health care provider if you are not sure whether or not you should take NSAIDs.

It may also help to get enough rest and avoid using alcohol and tobacco.

When should I get medical help for my period pain?

For many women, some pain during your period is normal. However, you should contact your health care provider if

• NSAIDs and self-care measures don’t help, and the pain interferes with your life
• Your cramps suddenly get worse
• You are over 25 and you get severe cramps for the first time
• You have a fever with your period pain
• You have the pain even when you are not getting your period

How is the cause of severe period pain diagnosed?

To diagnose severe period pain, your health care provider will ask you about your medical history and do a pelvic exam. You may also have an ultrasound or other imaging test. If your health care provider thinks you have secondary dysmenorrhea, you might have laparoscopy. It is a surgery that that lets your health care provider look inside your body.

What are treatments for severe period pain?

If your period pain is primary dysmenorrhea and you need medical treatment, your health care provider might suggest using hormonal birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, or IUD. Another treatment option might be prescription pain relievers.

If you have secondary dysmenorrhea, your treatment depends upon the condition that is causing the problem. In some cases, you may need surgery.

Is This Normal? I Have Diarrhea During My Period

how to stop diarrhea

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You’ve got embarrassing, tricky, and otherwise unusual life questions. We’ve got answers. Welcome to Is This Normal?, a no-nonsense, no-judgment advice column from HelloGiggles, in which we tap experts to find out exactly how typical (or not) your situation is.

Dear Is This Normal,

Dealing with heavy bleeding during my period is annoying enough, but I have yet another fluid flowing out of my body constantly when it’s my time of the month: diarrhea. During recent years when Aunt Flo comes to town, not only do I bleed, cramp, and bloat, but I can’t seem to stop pooping, either.

I’ve started wondering if this is a normal PMS symptom, and when my sister mentioned experiencing period diarrhea too, a quick Google search proved we weren’t alone in our struggle. Maybe this is TMI, but can you explain why some people get diarrhea during periods?

– Period Pooper

Dear Period Pooper,

Nothing is TMI here, especially when it comes to period talk. Plus, like you said, you’re not alone in your battle with period diarrhea. In fact, a whopping two-thirds of women reported experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms before and during their period, with 28% including diarrhea as an issue, according to a 2014 study conducted by BMC Women’s Health. So, as an unlucky lady pooping up a storm during your time of the month, you’re far from alone. But how do diarrhea and your menstrual cycle correlate? We tapped doctors to explain this mysterious period diarrhea.

Why do I get diarrhea on my period?

Unfortunately, because period diarrhea isn’t discussed as a PMS symptom as often as others (read: cramps), more studies are needed to determine exactly what causes diarrhea during periods. However, many doctors lean toward a common culprit: prostaglandins, aka compounds in the body that have hormone-like effects.

“During a woman’s menstrual cycle, certain hormones can cause bloating, diarrhea or constipation, water retention, and abdominal cramping,” Women’s Health Specialist, Dr. Soma Mandal, tells HelloGiggles. “Increasing progesterone levels can cause constipation, while diarrhea can occur when prostaglandins begin to relax the smooth muscles in the uterus before bleeding occurs.”

Story continues

When these pesky prostaglandins relax the blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract, what’s inside (you know, bacteria that eventually becomes poop) doesn’t have time to fully harden, which can lead to diarrhea.

“When a woman menstruates, prostaglandins are released and cause the uterine muscle to contract (which helps the uterine lining shed),” medical director at The Pill Club, Dr. Amy Roskin, tells HelloGiggles. “However, prostaglandins can also cause other muscles—like those in the intestines—to contract, resulting in more frequent bowel movements and sometimes diarrhea.”

So, blame prostaglandins—not Mother Nature—for period diarrhea. Those of us who experience diarrhea before and during our periods simply got dealt an unlucky hand. However, just like with other PMS symptoms, you don’t have to suffer through them—there are ways to treat period diarrhea.

How to stop diarrhea during your period:

Stick it to Mother Nature and take action against unpleasant period diarrhea by following these doctor-recommended tips.

• Alter your diet: “Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.” Dr. Mandal advises. “Minimize spicy foods, caffeine, sugary foods, alcohol, and dairy products during this time.”

• Think about trying birth control: “Consider oral contraceptives, which can regulate the cycle and reduce diarrhea,” Dr. Mandal says.

• Exercise: Physical activity can help minimize diarrhea.

• Reduce stress: Excessive stress can worsen all period symptoms, including diarrhea. Check out our tips on how to reduce stress here.

• Try a medication: “If diarrhea is accompanied by cramping, consider an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which can reduce the cramping effects of prostaglandins,” Dr. Mandal recommends.

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We hate to break it to you, but just like chocolate cravings and fatigue, diarrhea might just come along with your period indefinitely. However, it’s worth a shot to try to manage symptoms. And remember—period diarrhea is normal, so don’t beat yourself up about it.

Why You Get Diarrhea, Constipation, Or Even Both During Different Times of Your Menstrual Cycle & The Top 4 Ways to Fix It

Author: Dr. Liz Dalglish, ND

Dr. Liz is a Collingwood naturopath who provides evidence-based care to those struggling with brain fog, memory issues, chronic pain, fatigue, and all things related to your period. Click here to schedule a free consult with Dr. Liz.

Women often experience common digestive concerns, like painful bloating, gas, upset stomach, “the runs” (i.e. diarrhea) or difficulty passing a bowel movement (i.e. constipation), but did you know that where you are in your cycle can make some of these symptoms worse? This article will dive into why you get some of these symptoms and the top three ways you can feel better. 

Day 1 – 5 or 7 – Your Period

Typically this is the time of your cycle when estrogen and progesterone, your two key female hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, are on the decline. “Period poop” can happen at this time, as the two hormones are theorized to slow down your gut motility, which is the rate at which food is passed through your digestive tract. Because these hormones are at lower levels, your gut motility speeds up and you aren’t reabsorbing water and other nutrients as quickly and are more likely to have diarrhea, especially on the first few days of your cycle. Another potential reason for the diarrhea is that there are increased levels of prostaglandins during this time, which increase inflammation in your body and relax the smooth muscles of your digestive tract, making it more likely for you to experience diarrhea. If you already have a condition that increases your likelihood of diarrhea, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), your period can significantly impact your bowel function and quality of life for a few days every month!

Your period can significantly impact your bowel function and quality of life for a few days every month.

Tip # 1 – Probiotics Can Help Stop the Diarrhea!

Probiotics are sources of “good” bacteria that can help you poop more regularly if you suffer from diarrhea. They can be found naturally in foods, including but not limited to sauerkraut, kim-chi, yogurt or kefir, miso, natto, fermented tempeh, sourdough bread, and kombucha! Some individuals might require supplementation with certain probiotics to help reduce their symptom severity, especially if you have been diagnosed with IBS too, so talk to your Collingwood naturopath about what probiotic options work for you! 

Day 6 or 8 – 13 or 14 – Your Follicular Phase

Women during this time of the menstrual cycle, you are growing and developing an egg that will be released from your ovary in order to conceive. Estrogen is the predominant hormone that helps facilitate this process. Usually, women will experience bowel movements that are considered more or less “normal” at this time of the cycle. 

Tip #2 – Charting your Type of Stool!

This is a good time of your cycle to determine what your baseline poops look like! Using a tool like the Bristol Stool Chart to help measure this is super helpful. Ask your Collingwood naturopath about this chart when you book your appointment to help evaluate your stools objectively!

Day 14 – Ovulation

Ovulation is the point of your cycle when the mature egg is released from your ovary to be potentially fertilized by sperm and implanted in the lining of your uterus for conception. This time of your cycle is when some women experience more difficulty with having a bowel movement and experience constipation for a few days or even until you get your period! This is due to a rise in progesterone in the body, which will slow down your gut motility, or how fast food passes through your digestive tract, as previously mentioned. Constipation is a common symptom, but not normal, and can exacerbate conditions like IBS or endometriosis!

Tip #3 – Fibre Can Help You Poop!

Increasing your fibre intake by eating an assortment of vegetables and fruit can really help to promote bowel movements by increasing your gut fill and giving your bowels some bulk, especially for women who struggle with constipation at this time in their cycle. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, arugula, kale, collard greens; root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squashes, asparagus, cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower; and onions, garlic, and peppers are all wonderful vegetables that we encourage people to try! Fruits like berries like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and black beerries; grapes, apples, citrus fruits like lemon, lime, grapefruit and oranges; pitted fruit like peaches, plums, cherries and nectarines; pineapple, kiwi, and melons like honey dew, watermelon and cantaloupe are all delicious options! A fibre supplement like psyllium husk could also work well to help get rid of the constipation. Talk to your naturopath or other healthcare practitioner before taking any supplements to see what would work best for your case!

Day 15 – 28 – Your Luteal Phase

The second half of your menstrual cycle is called the luteal phase. During the luteal phase, the lining of the uterus develops in order to get ready for the fertilized egg to be implanted in order to conceive. The predominant hormone responsible during this phase is progesterone.

Typically, during the luteal phase and especially right before your period, women can experience more gas, bloating, water retention and changes to your bowel movements. The research isn’t 100% certain of why this happens, but we think it’s due to the increase in progesterone in combination with estrogen in a woman’s body and how they fluctuate uniquely per person. If women have digestive issues in combination with other symptoms like breast tenderness, irritability, increased appetite and food cravings, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and lower energy right before their period, you could be experiencing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). These symptoms start in your luteal phase and can persist until the first few days of your period and beginning of a new cycle. 

Tip #4 – Calcium can fix your PMS!

Supplementing with calcium can really help with reducing symptoms of PMS, including some of the mood changes and diarrhea that so many women experience.¹ Calcium is relatively inexpensive, quite accessible and you don’t need to take large doses to see effects!

Having an individualized treatment plan made for your specific case is a great option to help improve your digestive symptoms associated with your menstrual cycle and period. Talk to your licensed naturopath or other healthcare practitioner about what different interventions are right for your particular case! If you are interested in booking an appointment with a Collingwood naturopath, please book through our online booking link as we would be more than happy to work with you towards your health goals!

References

1. Shobeiri F, Araste FE, Ebrahimi R, Jenabi E, Nazari M. Effect of calcium on premenstrual syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2017 Jan;60(1):100-105. doi: 10.5468/ogs.2017.60.1.100. Epub 2017 Jan 15.

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90,000 Diarrhea for menstrual causes

Professional skills: Colon hydrotherapy, treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Due to physiology, women often suffer from intestinal disorders, so diarrhea during menstruation is not surprising during this period. The discomfort and soreness that makes you feel unwell significantly worsens your well-being and negatively affects your mood. Diarrhea often does not require special treatment and goes away very quickly.How to alleviate an unpleasant symptom, and what causes it?

Root Causes

Experts have long found out why diarrhea appears in the first days of menstruation, and have conducted many clinical studies aimed at measuring the concentration of female hormones and studying their direct effect on the digestive system. As a result, it was proved that changes in the hormonal background contribute to an increase in the level of lipid physiologically active substances – pain mediators (prostaglandins).They cause frequent contractions of the muscle fibers in the intestinal walls, which leads to a thinning of the stool.

On the first day of menstruation, the body weakens and reacts violently to external and internal irritants. Most women / girls of reproductive age experience lethargy, nervousness, cephalalgia (headache), dizziness, increased or decreased appetite before critical days and during bleeding. Only a third of them have increased gas formation, a sensation preceding vomiting, vomiting, frequent stools, intestinal spasm.

The causes of diarrhea during menstruation can be as follows:

• Contraction of the walls of the uterus, affecting intestinal peristalsis.
• Vagal nerve hypertonicity, manifested by a decrease in blood pressure, hyperhidrosis, freezing of the extremities, and gastrointestinal disorders.
• A surge in the level of gestagens, which are responsible for the reproductive functions of the genitals.
• Changes in taste, increased appetite, leading to overeating and the use of a large number of laxative foods (for example, pumpkin, beets, fresh sour milk drinks).
• Stressful situations. Any minor grief can cause tears and serious worries these days. The body instantly responds to emotional instability with diarrhea even in the middle of the cycle.
• Increased blood circulation in the pelvis, which causes slight swelling of the uterus. It compresses the intestines and provokes the appearance of liquid bowel movements.

Even when your period is just around the corner, diarrhea can appear, disrupting all plans. This is due to hormonal fluctuations and signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Important! There are cases when liquid stool during menstruation coincides with the development of pathological conditions. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the accompanying signs so as not to miss the onset of the disease and take all the necessary measures to eliminate it in a timely manner.

When loose stools can be considered pathology

There is an opinion that diarrhea that occurs during menstruation is only good for the body: this way it is cleansed of toxins and toxins, rejuvenates, and heals.But sometimes repeated loose stools are not caused by changes in hormonal balance, but are associated with an exacerbated ailment. A woman needs to monitor the possible appearance of unpleasant symptoms, as well as evaluate the features of bowel movements.

Liquid pathological stool during menstruation is characterized by:

• Repulsive putrid odor.
• The presence of mucus, bloody discharge in the feces.
• Watery consistency.

These symptoms indicate a gastrointestinal tract infection.The patient often has to go to the toilet, her body temperature rises, vomiting begins, her head hurts, and she feels severe weakness.

Why even with menstruation diarrhea, an experienced specialist will say. The cause may be a serious illness:

• Endometriosis . May also cause bloody diarrhea.
• Cystitis . This is an inflammatory process in the urinary tract. Menstruation is often a factor provoking an exacerbation of many ailments, including cystitis.
• Enteritis and colitis . Pathologies of a chronic nature, occurring without pronounced symptoms. A weakened body becomes more susceptible to irritation, which contributes to the appearance of new signs of the disease.
• Algodismenorrhea . This is a gynecological disease, accompanied by diarrhea during menstruation, vomiting, acute pain.
• Dysbacteriosis . During menstruation, diarrhea occurs if the balance of the intestinal environment is disturbed, and the number of pathogens far exceeds the number of beneficial bacteria.Probiotics will help get rid of the unpleasant syndrome.

In some cases, the causes of the disorder are gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other stomach diseases that have similar symptoms. The main factor in the development of stomach ulcers is the activation of a spiral-shaped bacteria that infects various parts of the stomach.

Diarrhea during menstruation is sometimes observed in women with a bend of the uterus. This is not the worst pathology, but with it, menstruation is often painful (especially in girls).There is no need to treat this condition. As a rule, it normalizes after childbirth, or remains until the end of life, without causing any problems associated with conception or other ailments of the genitourinary system.

When you need a doctor

It is far from always possible to independently find out why diarrhea occurs during menstruation. Therefore, if you identify suspicious symptoms, you should consult your doctor. Only he can find the cause of the disturbed digestion.

Especially dangerous when:

• Diarrhea is accompanied by fever, vomiting, and a terrible stomach ache.
• Diarrhea lasts longer than two days. Normally, with hormonal changes, loose stools are observed for a maximum of 2 days.
• The appearance of feces with discoloration, mucus and blood streaks is observed. This is unacceptable during menstruation.

Diarrhea and delay

It happens that a girl is waiting for the onset of critical days, and instead of them an attack of diarrhea begins. This happens at the beginning of pregnancy, when hormonal changes take place. The increased concentration of progesterone in the bloodstream has a laxative effect on the digestive tract.Lack of menstruation on time and bouts of diarrhea are a good reason to get a pregnancy test, especially when you feel weakness, drowsiness, intolerance to certain odors, irritability, a sharp change in mood, decreased performance.

Diarrhea allows the internal organs to cleanse themselves, which is the initial stage of the gestation period. It can last for several weeks and appear periodically in the first months of gestation. In the future, the stool will become harder, and closer to childbirth, constipation may occur.

Important! A stool disorder can bother a girl even before her period is delayed. At the same time, the lower back often pulls, moderate pain appears, which signals the fixation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.

If pregnancy is excluded, and instead of menstruation, bowel movements become multiple and liquid, do not panic. Sometimes this happens when:

• Psycho-emotional overload.
• Poor nutrition, hunger strikes, strict diets.
• Hormonal disruption associated with the formation of the monthly cycle up to menopause.
• Cancellation of hormonal contraception.
• Lactation.

Rarely does such a violation indicate:

• Inflammation or oncopathology in the reproductive organs.
• Hormonal disorders associated with the thyroid or pituitary gland.

If the delay lasts longer than five days, but the test does not confirm fertilization of the egg, you should urgently consult your doctor.

Diarrhea and ovulation

When an egg leaves the ovary and enters the fallopian tube, an attack of diarrhea may develop, commonly associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

During ovulation, the intestinal walls are intensely reduced, which becomes the reason for the liquefaction of feces. It will not work to alleviate the state of health with medications. The only acceptable option is nutritional correction and intake of herbal decoctions. If, after ovulation, before the onset of menstruation, diarrhea does not go away, and temperature and vomiting are added to it, you should seek medical help and look for the true cause of the pathology.

Treatment

It is not necessary to immediately resort to antidiarrheal drugs if diarrhea during menstruation is caused by hormonal disruption, which is absolutely normal. Menstruation is not considered a disease, and diarrhea caused by it also does not require therapeutic measures. Using antidiarrheal drugs in this case is not only impractical, but also harmful, as they can provoke constipation. Imodium or its analogs will be effective if frequent bowel movements were preceded by a gastrointestinal tract disorder.

If diarrhea began simultaneously with menstruation, accompanied by painful spasm of the intestines, it is allowed to take No-Shpu, relaxing smooth muscles and significantly alleviating the condition. From folk methods, if there are no restrictions, you can use black peppercorns: swallow several pieces without chewing, drinking water.

Preventive measures

In order for diarrhea during the menstrual cycle to pass faster and not cause trouble, a woman should use the following recommendations:

• Do not overeat and carefully monitor your diet.Food should not be too spicy, peppery, salty. It is advisable to eat only freshly prepared food, giving preference to boiled, stewed, steamed dishes.
• Exclude fried foods, sugar, salt, spices from the menu. It will be necessary to reduce not only unhealthy foods, but also the amount of vegetable and fruit foods eaten that cause fermentation in the digestive tract. Experts recommend opting for viscous cereals and mashed potatoes, cooked not in milk, but in water without adding oil.Such a diet will help protect the intestinal mucosa and stop diarrhea.

Drink plenty of water (not ice cold and not very hot). You can also drink sweetened black tea and herbal tea. Chamomile, yarrow, oak bark soothe the stomach and have astringent properties. Any of these herbs at the rate of 1 teaspoon per glass of water is steamed in boiling water, or boiled over a slow flame for 5-7 minutes. After cooling, filter and take half a glass 2-3 times / day until you feel better.

• Physical activity should be limited. It is not scary to miss a fitness class or workout in the gym during this period. After all, diarrhea during menstruation can be caused by active motor activity, which enhances peristalsis and contributes to the movement of feces to the exit. Better to walk and spend time in a relaxed environment instead

Diarrhea during PMS or during menstruation is a natural phenomenon. It is not considered a sign of intestinal infection or intoxication.In some patients, intestinal looseness occurs only in the first days of menstruation, and then the stool returns to normal. If adherence to a healthy lifestyle, balanced nutrition, and rejection of bad habits do not help to cope with a delicate problem, it is better to seek medical help.

Women are more prone to intestinal disorders than men due to the physiological characteristics of the body. They are manifested by functional intestinal disorders, including spastic colitis, less often constipation or diarrhea during menstruation.They are subjective, but, nevertheless, cause concern on the part of the fairer sex.

Causes of intestinal disorders during menstruation

Numerous complaints from many patients about changes in the frequency and nature of stools on the eve of or during menstruation have led to basic and clinical research, which were aimed at studying changes in progesterone and estrogen levels and their effect on the functioning of the digestive system.As a result, the reasons were identified that affect the frequency of bowel movements, and in some cases, the appearance of diarrhea during menstruation with a regular menstrual cycle.

The female body on critical days is unnecessarily weakened and subject to various external influences or internal disturbances. It has been proven that most women of reproductive age experience unpleasant symptoms before and during menstruation: weakness, headaches and dizziness, pain in the lower abdomen, nausea.And only a third of them complain of vomiting, flatulence, intestinal cramps and diarrhea during menstruation. What are the causes of such a common ailment, and how to deal with it?

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Common causes of upset stools and associated symptoms are:

• Changes in hormonal levels, since during this period the level of prostaglandins increases, which cause muscle contraction of the intestinal walls.
• blood filling of the pelvic organs, as well as increased contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which affects intestinal motility.
• An increase in the tone of the vagus nerve, which is manifested by hypotension, profuse sweating, freezing of the hands, also affects the functioning of the intestines.
• A change in taste that leads to the consumption of foods that have a laxative effect.

Stool disorder can occur not only during menstruation, but also on the eve of their appearance. As a rule, this process is normal and does not cause side complications and pathological changes.It has been proven that normal diarrhea before menstruation and during their discharge lasts only 2-3 days, after which it disappears without a trace. Experts say that in this way the body cleans itself of harmful substances and toxins, restoring the normal functions of organs and systems. Therefore, physiological diarrhea does not require special treatment.

When diarrhea on critical days – pathology

Not always diarrhea that occurs on the first day of menstruation is a physiological process associated with cleansing the body.Sometimes it can be a manifestation of some serious illness, and its appearance at the beginning of the menstrual cycle is a mere coincidence. To make sure of this, you should pay attention to the nature of the stool, accompanying symptoms, the duration of diarrhea. If, after menstruation, the stool has not returned to normal, but, as before, has a liquid consistency, you should urgently consult a therapist or gastroenterologist. In this case, diarrhea may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• unpleasant odor;
• by the presence of mucus;
• color change;
• the presence of greenery or blood streaks;
• by acquiring a watery consistency.

Only a specialist after a survey and finding out why with monthly diarrhea, as well as after receiving the results of laboratory tests, can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Attention! Diarrhea, accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, may be due to intestinal poisoning or a symptom of a more serious illness.

Diarrhea on critical days: to treat or not

To alleviate the condition of a woman during menstruation and eliminate diarrhea, it is recommended:

• change the diet, excluding foods that cause flatulence, as well as heavy foods: fried, fatty, spicy foods;
• include fresh vegetables and fruits in the daily diet, switch to frequent and fractional meals;
• to increase the amount of liquid you drink, and decoctions from tansy, nettle, rose hips have an excellent effect;
• Do physical exercise in a gentle mode, as it helps to balance hormonal levels;
• eliminate irritating factors: stressful situations, nervous disorders, increased physical activity, give the body rest and good nutrition.

During menstruation, experts recommend including foods with a strengthening effect in the diet. These include:

• strong meat broths;
• black tea;

90,021 cottage cheese;

90,021 white bread rusks;

• cereals: buckwheat, rice, oatmeal.

If during menstruation diarrhea is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, we can confidently talk about intestinal poisoning. In this case, you should reconsider the diet, or even go on a strict diet.In this case, it is necessary to visit a doctor who will determine the nature of diarrhea, vomiting and other alarming symptoms and prescribe appropriate therapeutic measures: drug therapy, exercise, appropriate nutrition.

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 it is sometimes very difficult to get rid of diarrhea during menstruation with a medication method.

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:

• discomfort in the abdomen;

90,021 headache;

• nausea.

Diarrhea during menstruation appears due to contractions of the walls of the uterus. Such movements spread to nearby organs, including the intestines.Under the influence of this activity, diarrhea begins. In this case, diarrhea is combined with soreness in the lower abdomen. Also diarrhea during menstruation can be caused by other factors:

1. Diarrhea before menstruation can occur due to an increase in the level of the hormone prostaglandin, which can affect all organs and systems in the body. The peculiarity of this enzyme is that it acts in a relaxing way on the muscle tissue of the intestine.
2. Diarrhea during menstruation can also appear under the influence of a change in hormonal levels.The body of a woman during menstruation strives to cleanse, and therefore the intestines begin to excrete all harmful and toxic substances.
3. Sometimes the reason why diarrhea occurs during menstruation is diseases of the digestive system. During menstruation, a woman’s body becomes more susceptible to external influences, and therefore diseases are exacerbated, which becomes the cause of the development of diarrhea.
4. Diarrhea during menstruation is sometimes the result of increased blood flow to the organs of the genitourinary system and the abdominal cavity.With increased stress, the intestine reacts with disorder.
5. On the first day of menstruation, diarrhea may appear along with severe pain in the lower abdomen and bleeding. The reason for such manifestations is the bend of the uterus. The problem goes away on its own after childbirth, as the woman’s hips expand and the uterus acquires a normal position.

The most common and main cause of diarrhea during menstruation is hormonal disruptions and disorders. In this case, it will not be possible to get rid of diarrhea.Efforts can only be directed towards reducing symptoms and their intensity.

Loose stools during menstruation is the norm

In most cases, the cause of diarrhea during critical days is the usual premenstrual syndrome. Therefore, at the end of menstruation, upset bowel syndrome will go away by itself.

Infection or PMS?

An upset stomach may result from an infection entering the body. In this case, the signs of intestinal or gastric upset are very similar to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.The only difference is that the signs of an infectious disease appear somewhat stronger. In general, the disorder is manifested by the following symptoms:

• loose stools, which occurs quite often;
• severe headache;
• general weakness in the body;

90,021 high body temperature;

• nausea;
• painful sensations in the abdominal cavity;

90,021 vomiting.

Loose stools during menstruation, combined with the listed symptoms, can only be observed with an extremely severe course of menstruation.In other cases, you should worry, since such signs should be attributed to manifestations of diseases. In this case, the infection must be detected as soon as possible so that it does not cause an even more severe disorder and the spread of the infection.
You should also be concerned if diarrhea continues after your period. In this case, the color and smell of feces are of great importance. Alarming are streaks of blood, green and black inclusions, and a strong unpleasant odor. If these signs are accompanied by severe abdominal pain, diarrhea is likely due to an exacerbation of the disease.

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 dietary food. The following foods must be present in the diet:

• meat broths, preferably strong;

90,021 cottage cheese;

• strong black tea;
• buckwheat, oatmeal;

90,021 potatoes;

90,021 crackers;

• white bread.

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

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

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 delayed periods

Delayed menstruation and diarrhea often go hand in hand. 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 a rise in temperature, you should see your doctor.

90,000 reasons and is this normal?

All people are familiar with bowel disorders. Diarrhea during menstruation causes more discomfort and poor health, because in addition to weakness, irritability and mood swings, you also have to fight with pain in the intestines. It is important to figure out why there may be such a condition, whether it is necessary to do something and how to properly treat it.

Causes of the disorder with menstruation

Diarrhea during menstruation has reasonable physiological reasons. We will discuss the following in more detail:

90 020 90 021 muscle contractions of the uterus;

An upset bowel may be associated with menstrual flow in the body. Depending on the cause of its occurrence, treatment may be required.

Due to uterine contractions

Shortly before the start of the menstrual cycle, the uterus prepares to rid itself of the endometrial layer. For this, muscle contractions occur in the organ. Since the uterus and intestines are located side by side in the body, muscle activity can be transmitted.

Menstruation begins with cramping pains, diarrhea develops. This condition does not require specific treatment, as it goes away on its own.

Due to fluctuations in hormone levels

With menstruation, diarrhea develops due to an increase in the level of prostaglandin.This hormone causes smooth muscle relaxation. Although the uterus should be the first to be affected, the intestines also relax.

Loose stools during menstruation are explained by the body’s attempt to cleanse. During this period, the uterus is freed from the overgrown endometrium, and the intestines from feces by means of loose stools.

Due to gastrointestinal diseases

The organs of the gastrointestinal tract can suffer from chronic diseases for years. On the first day of menstruation, the female body becomes more sensitive.Diseases that do not make themselves felt on other days cause severe discomfort during this delicate period.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are usually accompanied by the following manifestations:

• nausea;

90,021 vomiting;

90,021 abdominal pain.

Why before menstruation diarrhea, the specialist will be able to tell. If you suspect a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, you should immediately go to the hospital.

Diarrhea during menstruation can be a sign of serious medical conditions, which are briefly described in the table.

Due to rush of blood

Diarrhea before menstruation may occur due to a rush of blood.During menstruation, the pelvic organs are under increased stress. The bowel response is diarrhea.

Curvature of the uterus as a cause

Why during menstruation diarrhea, you can understand after a detailed medical examination. When there are no problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the cause of the diarrhea may lie in the state of the uterus.

Bending of the uterus is a serious pathology in which menstruation is accompanied by pain and frustration. Diarrhea can last for several days after bleeding begins.It is impossible to treat this pathology. After giving birth, the situation improves on its own.

Characteristic of diarrhea during menstruation

Diarrhea before delay starts one week before. A slight loosening of the stool is noticeable 5-7 days before menstruation. Loose stools begin two days before the start of the cycle. Defecation occurs in the morning.

Diarrhea before menstruation is accompanied by pain of moderate intensity. After emptying the bowels, the seizures subside, and the woman ceases to feel discomfort.

It is normal for this phenomenon to appear a few days before the onset of menstruation. A healthy woman should not have more than three urges to use the toilet in the morning during this period. Otherwise, the cause of the problem should be sought not in gynecology, but in gastroenterology. A deviation from the norm should also be considered if the symptoms of diarrhea persist after menstruation.

How to help yourself

Diarrhea during menstruation does not require drug treatment. At the same time, the condition requires some measures to improve well-being.What to do in such a situation?

It is important to correct your diet. Delay of menstruation, diarrhea during this period is not treated with medications. Consuming foods that have a bonding effect can help relieve the condition and symptoms of diarrhea. The following foods and drinks should be included in the diet:

• strong tea;
• broth;
• buckwheat and rice porridge;
• natural cottage cheese;

90,021 rusks.

If there are no contraindications to spicy dishes, you can swallow a few peas of black pepper.This method will help to hold the intestines together and diarrhea will disappear if the period is delayed.

How to properly go to the toilet during your period?

When diarrhea is a cause for concern

Understanding why diarrhea develops during menstruation, you can correctly respond to changes in the female body. At the same time, there are factors that cannot be ignored.

Diarrhea and delayed menstruation can be a reason to see a doctor in this case:

1. Loose stools do not pass for more than 2 days.
2. Greenish feces with foam and blood.
3. Defecation is accompanied by severe pain, fever, vomiting and weakness.

Bowel upset before menses are delayed and in the early days are normal. By adhering to simple recommendations for correcting nutrition, unwanted symptoms can be prevented. By avoiding excessive physical activity during this period, you can also balance the state and feel great!

90,000 Constipation during menstruation, after and before them – causes, treatment

Views: 26 288

Date of last update: 09.06.2021

Average Read Time: 5 minutes

Contents:

Causes of constipation during menstruation
Risk factors
How constipation manifests itself during menstruation
How to treat constipation with a diet
Drug elimination of constipation during menstruation

Difficulty defecating (constipation) is characterized as a disorder of the activity of the lower intestine. It is due to many reasons and in most cases goes away after they are eliminated.But what if there is constipation during menstruation? After all, this process is under the control of the endocrine system, which regulates not only sexual function, but also the activity of the female digestive tract. It is the change in the level of sex hormones in the female body that explains the occurrence of constipation during menstruation, before and after it.

Causes of constipation during menstruation

The menstrual cycle begins with a decrease in the level of sex hormones. At this time, various changes occur with the woman’s body, which lead to spasms in the intestinal wall and restraint of defecation.These changes include the following:

• exfoliation of the endometrium from the uterine wall;
• filling the uterus with blood and pressure from its side on neighboring organs, including the intestines;
• weakening of intestinal motility due to the influence of hormonal compounds;
• increase in the level of prostaglandins in plasma, which leads to the occurrence of spasms;

90,021 swelling due to the fact that sodium ions and fluid are retained in the body;

• the flow of water from the intestine to adjacent tissues.

It is known that during menstruation there are significant changes in the diet, a strong appetite develops, and the need for an abundant drink increases. This also leaves its mark on the development of constipation. The culprit is the drop in estrogen levels.

A decrease in progesterone has a direct effect on the activity of the intestines, it provokes the occurrence of constipation before menstruation. During menstruation, difficulty with stool can occur due to pressure from the uterus, and constipation after menstruation can be caused by residual hormonal deficiency.

Up to table of contents

Risk factors

Constipation during menstruation occurs in women in the following cases:

• if you drink too much liquid;
• the presence of hormonal disorders;

90,021 consumption of alcoholic beverages;

90,021 diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

• the presence of inflammatory foci in the body, especially in the gastrointestinal tract
• if the diet is dominated by foods that contribute to a decrease in intestinal tone, increased gas formation.

Up to table of contents

What is constipation during menstruation

Symptoms of menstrual constipation depend on its type: atonic or spastic. In the first case, the woman feels significant bloating due to the increased formation of gases. In addition, there is an appetite disorder, apathy, malaise, weakness. With a spastic type in the abdomen, one feels: rumbling, flatulence, pain.

Up to table of contents

How to treat constipation with a diet

In the event of constipation before or after menstruation (as well as during), be sure to adhere to a special diet.It is best to start introducing laxative foods into the menu in advance, about a week before the onset of menstruation. The following foods will be most preferred:

• fermented milk;
• vegetable oil;
• bran;
• dark cereals;
• vegetables and fruits (if gas formation is not observed), berries.

To exclude from the diet will require cereals with light shades, potatoes and pasta, bakery and confectionery products, cabbage, legumes.

Up to table of contents

Drug elimination of constipation during menstruation

To combat constipation during menstruation, you can use microclysters MICROLAX ^® , which promote the onset of action within 5-15 minutes ¹ after use. The mechanism of action of the drug is based on natural physiological processes in the body, therefore MICROLAX ^® has a high safety profile. Micro enema does not affect the organs of the digestive system, which are above the rectum, and is also not absorbed into the bloodstream.

A single administration of MICROLAX ^® promotes softening of feces with their subsequent removal from the intestines. In the process of softening, solid accumulations disintegrate into smaller fractions under the influence of the active components of the drug (sodium citrate and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate). In addition to the main components, microclysters include polyalcohols, which have the property of attracting water. As a result of their action, its content in the intestine increases, the feces become soft and come out.

Micro enema does not require antiseptic treatment and is completely ready for use.

Up to table of contents

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for diagnosis and treatment.

¹ In accordance with the instructions for medical use of the drug MICROLAX ^® .

90,000 Nausea and diarrhea during menses.Diarrhea during menstruation: what to do

Often, the onset of menstruation is accompanied by severe manifestations of diarrhea. It is explained by a strong change in the general hormonal background of the woman’s body and the intense pressure of the uterus that has increased at this time on the intestinal wall. Such an extremely unpleasant condition is often accompanied by a significant deterioration in general well-being. The fairer sex often completely loses the ability to work, experiences abdominal pain and with great difficulty can observe the basic requirements for personal hygiene during menstruation.She loses her appetite and feels uncomfortable. In addition, diarrhea increases dehydration.

In some of the fairer sex, diarrhea occurs shortly before the onset of menstruation, in other women it develops on the first day of critical days. It usually does not start immediately, but gradually. First, the feces become semi-liquid, then diarrhea appears.

Causes of diarrhea during menstruation

The main causes of stool disorders during the critical days are:

• pronounced changes;
• a significant increase in the bloodstream of various compounds that affect the receptors of the inner lining of the intestine;
• spasms of the muscles of the uterus;
• change in basic taste preferences;
• palpable nervous tension;
• craving for sweets, often manifested during the course of premenstrual syndrome;
• flatulence;
• increased thirst;
• increased blood flow to the pelvic area;
• swelling of the internal organs of the female genital area;
• violation of the menstrual cycle;
• various anomalies of the structure of the uterus;
• hereditary predisposition;
• metabolic disorders in the body;
• bend of the uterus, etc.

Such numerous reasons often cause a significant increase in fermentation processes in the intestine, a pronounced activation of its peristalsis, leading to the desire to get rid of its excess contents. Because of this, the functioning of the digestive system becomes excessively pronounced, which provokes diarrhea and indigestion.

Diarrhea during menstruation: the norm

Often, the appearance of loose stools in women occurs with a sharp change in taste preferences during menstruation.The fairer sex completely disappears appetite and they begin to eat only certain foods. Sometimes such food can cause significant dysfunction of the stomach and intestines, as it becomes too unusual for the digestive system, which cannot cope with the increased load.

Shortly before the onset of critical days, some women develop real diarrhea. Most often it occurs in the morning, accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen.It is often enough to empty the bowel completely once, but in some cases you have to visit the toilet more than once.

Usually traditional pharmacological remedies for diarrhea in such a case have no effect. Therefore, women simply try to mitigate the intensity of the manifestation of diarrhea.

Often, the fact that her symptoms are the result of the onset of menstruation indicates that as the bowel is emptied, the condition of the fairer sex improves significantly, and the intensity of diarrhea decreases with each visit to the toilet.

If loose stools are not observed soon after the end of menstruation, then it was closely associated with it and did not arise under the influence of any infection or other intestinal pathology. Moreover, this dysfunction is ultimately beneficial to the body. It greatly facilitates the passage of critical days for the fairer sex, helps to cope with pain syndrome and improves the outflow of blood from the pelvic area.

How to get rid of diarrhea during menstruation

The main way to normalize bowel function during menstruation is a special daily diet.

Preference should be given:

• porridge;
• plant foods; 90 022 90 021 fish;
• minced meat of low-fat varieties; 90 022 90 021 rice; 90 022 90 021 lean soup; 90,022 90,021 bread;
• various vegetables;
• jelly; 90 022 90 021 yoghurt;
• fruits;
• strong brewed tea.

These products have a pronounced enveloping effect, prevent the development of diarrhea, significantly improve metabolism, stimulate the body’s defenses and soften the intestinal mucosa.

It is advisable to completely be during menstruation from the use of legumes, fatty meats, beets and sweets. The use of spices and hot seasonings should also be avoided.

At this time, the inclusion of laxative foods in the diet should be discontinued. They are apricots, bananas, raisins, dried apricots, cucumbers, tomatoes, plums, pumpkin, prunes, apples. It is also worth stopping eating fatty cottage cheese, as well as drinking kefir or soda water.

It is advisable to eat several times a day in small portions.

It is necessary to avoid eating hot food, which causes an active blood flow to the small pelvis.

During menstruation, you need to ensure that overeating does not occur, as it increases the load on the digestive system and overloads the intestines, which stimulates the intensity of diarrhea.

Similarly, you should not drink very chilled water. It is required to give preference to drinks at room temperature.

It is worth giving up an active lifestyle for the period of menstruation.If possible, it is better to spend the first days after they start in bed or calmly walk in the park.

Sometimes adherence to these rules is enough to cope with diarrhea. In cases where there is no doubt that the diarrhea is caused by menstruation, it is allowed to alleviate your condition by taking sedatives that will alleviate the manifestations of PMS.

In order to improve the condition of the intestines, it is advisable to take infusions of fireweed, oak bark, St. John’s wort, chamomile, marsh or yarrow.They have a cleansing and sedative effect, strengthen the immune system, reduce irritation of the receptors of its inner wall and have a light fixing effect.

To prepare a product, it is usually necessary to take two tablespoons of raw materials and place them in a glass of boiling water. The tool is insisted for a quarter of an hour and taken in a pile before meals.

If the pain syndrome is very pronounced, then it is allowed to take a pill of any antispasmodic. However, it is better to consult a doctor before this, since taking such drugs can increase the manifestations of diarrhea.

Diarrhea before menstruation

And yet, even considering the fact that at the onset of menstruation, such an unpleasant condition is often noted in women, it is more common in those who are observed with indigestion.

These representatives of the fairer sex usually have nausea, lower abdominal pain, lack or increased appetite and severe dizziness. Therefore, the correction of well-being during the premenstrual syndrome should be accompanied by treatment of dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Very often diarrhea also occurs in those women who suffer from increased nervous excitability, neuroses and depression. They also need to try to get rid of the underlying cause of diarrhea in the first place.

In general, it is better not to inject additional synthetic substances into the bloodstream during menstruation, but to endure an attack of diarrhea, which will soon end. As the critical days approach the end, the level of hormones in the blood will stabilize and, at the latest in three days, the intestines will function as usual.

When to see a doctor?

You should be alert if diarrhea is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• duration of an attack that lasts more than two days;
• severe intestinal spasms;
• hyperthermia;
• rumbling in the stomach;
• vomiting;
• severe faintness;
• the presence of blood in the stool;
• mucus present in feces;
• Distinct unpleasant odor;
• color change, etc.d.

These symptoms usually indicate the presence of an infection or the development of a certain pathology of the digestive system. They are accompanied by manifestations of intoxication of the body, a strong inflammatory process and irritation of the intestinal mucosa.

Therefore, the appearance of diarrhea during menstruation must be approached very carefully in each case. It is best to undergo a complete examination and make sure that it is associated with the onset of menstruation, and not with the development of the disease.

Diarrhea during critical days can even be beneficial, allowing you to cleanse the intestines, normalize overall well-being and make your period easier.

Diarrhea reduces the symptoms of hormonal changes, removes harmful substances and makes it possible to avoid stagnation. In addition, it helps to relieve swelling and relieve uterine spasms.

The release of the intestines activates blood circulation and improves the functioning of the excretory system.

The female body is more often exposed to a violation of the nature of the stool due to the peculiarities of physiological processes.The menstrual cycle is accompanied by pulling abdominal pains, cramps, and increased irritability. Diarrhea during menstruation is uncommon. The emergence of an unpleasant symptomatic symptom is associated with the individual characteristics of the female body, diet, lifestyle.

Reasons

With menstruation, diarrhea appears for reasons associated with the characteristics of the course of menstruation, the presence of serious diseases.

Change in hormonal levels:

• uterine contractions;
• the effect of hormones;
• high rates of prostaglandins;

90,021 eating disorders;

90,021 pregnancy;

• rush of blood to the pelvic organs;

90,021 stress stress;

Presence of pathologies:

• bend of the uterus;

90,021 endometriosis;

• cystitis;
• stomach diseases;

90,021 viral infections.

Change in hormonal levels

Diarrhea before the menstrual cycle, during or after menstruation is a normal phenomenon associated with changes in the hormonal balance, the characteristics of the body during this period of the physiological process. The contraction of the uterus provokes the production of a substance that relaxes the smooth muscles of the intestine.

Diarrhea during menstruation can be caused by unhealthy diet, overeating, the use of foods new to the stomach.During the period of hormonal changes, an increase in appetite is normal, and as a result, excessive absorption of junk food, which provokes flatulence, bloating, and diarrhea. Frequent fluid intake causes swelling of organs, including the intestines, which affects the consistency of feces. The congestion of blood to the small pelvis promotes an increase in the size of the uterus, which affects the functioning of the digestive system.

In addition to changes in hormonal levels, structural features, internal placement of the genital organ, changes in eating behavior, diarrhea can be caused by stress.Increased intestinal peristalsis is the body’s response to an emotional state. Diarrhea with a delay in menstruation is a normal reaction of the body to an increase in the level of progesterone, which is actively produced after natural conception. Besides due to pregnancy, there is nausea, vomiting, unstable body temperature. If the cause of loose stools is a delay in menstruation, then defecation is observed from 5 to 7 days.

Diarrhea before menstruation is a manifestation of premenstrual syndrome due to an increased level of secreted hormones.Diarrhea on critical days is a physiological phenomenon that can last for several days.
Diarrhea during menstruation promotes the elimination of harmful toxins, toxins from the body, intensive contraction of the uterus.

Presence of pathologies

During menstruation, frequent loose stools may indicate the presence of serious internal pathologies associated with the functioning of the urinary and digestive systems. Diarrhea on critical days can be disturbing due to the bend of the uterus – the structural features of the genital organ, which, with swelling during menstruation, is in close contact with the intestinal walls.Contraction of the uterus irritates the mucous membrane of the organ of the digestive system, causing frequent peristalsis.

During the period of the menstrual cycle, an exacerbation of cystitis is possible – a disease of the urinary system, which is infectious in nature. Intense contractions of the uterus affect the irritated areas of the bladder, which is in direct contact with the intestinal walls. Endometriosis is a disease in which the cells of the uterus spread through the intestinal mucosa. During menstruation, cells secrete a hormone that provokes swelling of the organ of the digestive system, and as a result, the occurrence of diarrhea.

Menstruation is a physiological process in women, when there is a decrease in immunity. Therefore, the body is susceptible to infection with viruses, pathogenic microorganisms, when ingested, unpleasant symptoms arise that cause severe discomfort. Reduced immunity, improper diet, changes in hormonal levels exacerbate chronic gastrointestinal tract diseases, dysbiosis.

Features of diarrhea

Loose stools before menstruation occurs a week before the start of the cycle.Defecation is observed in the morning. Diarrhea is accompanied by pain, which disappears after bowel movement. The normal state is the discharge of loose stools several times in the morning. If the number of bowel movements exceeds 3 times, then the cause of diarrhea is not the structural features of the uterus, changes in hormonal balance, but exacerbation of stomach diseases.

The urge to defecate can be observed throughout the entire menstrual cycle. If diarrhea persists after the end of the critical days, then you should seek the help of a doctor to identify the causes of frequent loose stools.

Dangerous accompanying symptoms

Signs accompanying diarrhea during the menstrual cycle can be signals of dangerous diseases, internal pathologies. Unpleasant symptoms include:

• loose stools after the end of menstruation;

90,021 green feces with admixtures of blood, mucus;

• defecation, watery consistency;

90,021 black stool;

• bowel emptying, which is accompanied by abdominal pain, hyperthermia, vomiting, weakness.

The appearance of dangerous symptomatic signs on the first day of menstruation, which do not go away for several days, is a reason for an examination.

Diagnostics

If diarrhea does not go away on its own after a few days, then you should seek the advice of a specialist. When black feces appear, accompanied by severe cramps during bowel movements, pain in the anus, it is necessary to pass laboratory tests to determine viral, intestinal infections, pathogenic microorganisms.

Diagnostics involves the collection of blood, feces and urine. In addition to studies of biological materials, an ultrasound examination can be prescribed to identify pathologies of the pelvic organs.

Treatment of diarrhea during the menstrual cycle

A therapeutic course for the treatment of diarrhea should be prescribed after determining the cause of the unpleasant symptomatic symptom.

Drug treatment

If diarrhea during menstruation is caused by food poisoning, intestinal infections, then it is necessary to take medications, for example, adsorbing agents, antibiotics, probiotics.Such drugs help to remove pathogenic bacteria from the body, normalize the digestion process. In the presence of other symptoms, for example, fever, vomiting, pain syndromes, antipyretics, blockers, antispasmodics should be taken.

Regardless of the cause of diarrhea, frequent loose stools can drain large amounts of fluid from the body, which can lead to dehydration. Therefore, taking a solution consisting of salt and glucose is required. For the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take Imodium absorbable tablets.

The components included in the composition contribute to the preservation of useful nutrients and vitamins. When taking the medication, a side effect may occur – the occurrence of constipation.

Healthy eating

Correction of diet is an effective method of treatment for problems with the digestive system. When diarrhea appears, it is recommended to eat fresh, thermally processed food, reduce the amount of salt and sugar.Prohibited foods include:

• fatty, spicy dishes;

90,021 fresh fruits: apples, bananas, plums;

• dried fruits;
• vegetables: cucumbers, beets;
• kefir.

Prohibited are categories of food that can cause relaxation of the intestines, fermentation in the body. Therefore, during this period, it is recommended to take ingredients with a fixing effect: meat broths, rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, strong black tea, white bread rusks, cottage cheese with a low percentage of fat.

During a diet, you need to monitor the amount of fluid you drink, including herbal decoctions, infusions, jelly. With diarrhea, heavy physical activity is prohibited. During this period, you need to rest more, sleep, avoid stress overvoltage. Valerian root, motherwort, decoctions of chamomile, oak bark have a sedative effect.

The information on our website is provided by qualified doctors and is for informational purposes only. Do not self-medicate! Be sure to contact a specialist!

Gastroenterologist, professor, doctor of medical sciences.Appoints diagnostics and treatment. Group Expert on Inflammatory Diseases. Author of over 300 scientific papers.

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 the general state of health leaves much to be desired, and already unpleasant days are accompanied by additional “surprises”. Diarrhea during menstruation is not uncommon, but rather unpleasant. Not only is there a real hormonal imbalance in general, the mood “skips”, the face sprinkles, 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

In order 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:

• hormonal background, contributing to the production of progesterone during this period;
• Relaxation of the vaginal muscles.

It is not worth “digging” deeper, as 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 persists 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 an integrated manner.

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 protracted 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 is not. 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 quite unpretentious and includes adherence to the regime and the correct 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 made 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, however, 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.

Many women complain of diarrhea during menstruation, absolutely not understanding where it came from. The physiology of the female body is complex, and all vital processes in one way or another affect the state of health. Why does diarrhea occur during menstruation, and are there ways to combat this trouble?

Causes of the symptom

Diarrhea during menstruation often appears due to changes in hormonal levels.Before the onset of menstruation, hormones seem to go crazy, which is why a woman experiences mood swings and regular changes in well-being. Here are just a few reasons why loose stools may appear:

• pain cramps on the first and second days of menstruation lead to contraction of the intestinal walls, against which diarrhea occurs;
• during menstruation, the level of prostaglandins in the blood increases markedly, against the background of which the contraction of the intestinal walls becomes more frequent, diarrhea occurs;
• another reason is an increased blood flow to the pelvic area, which leads to the appearance of a problem;
• The so-called bend of the uterus stimulates the development of the problem on the first day of menstruation.

Often the problem occurs only in the first two days, and then disappears. It can then disappear, then appear during the next cycle. In this case, it is necessary to undergo an examination in order to accurately establish the cause of diarrhea during menstruation.

• if diarrhea persists after the end of menstruation;
• if blood or mucus appears in the stool;
• if the color of the feces itself turns out to be green or unnaturally light;
• if the symptom is accompanied by vomiting.

With menstruation, diarrhea can indicate both poisoning and the development of serious diseases. For example, progressive cancer of the internal organs is often accompanied by such an alarming symptom. During the period of the menstrual cycle, a woman can also pick up an intestinal infection, which manifests itself in the form of diarrhea and the presence of blood in the feces.

Sometimes severe diarrhea indicates the development of hemorrhoids. Due to the appearance of hemorrhoids, constipation can also occur, and each visit to the toilet room is associated with severe pain in the sphincter area.The appearance of blood clots after this is a sure sign of inflammation of the hemorrhoids.

One way or another, the alarming symptom should be only a temporary phenomenon and disappear after the difficult first days of menstruation.

Many women prefer to remain silent about the delicate problem that accompanies them during menstruation. However, pain and diarrhea cannot be ignored for a long time, since the unpleasant sensations themselves will only intensify over time.

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 covering.

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. The full intestine should not interfere with the activity of the organ, therefore, it begins to rapidly empty itself in a natural way.
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 leads to 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 exacerbates 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 woman 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 her stomach hurts badly.

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

When can diarrhea 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, make a diagnosis 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 solely by hormonal changes, then you do not need to immediately drink Imodium and Loperamide – substances that quickly relieve a person from 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 should control her appetite and watch 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 spicy 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 recede after menstruation if the girl drinks chamomile teas, which soothe the intestines and have an astringent effect.
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 is this happening? 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.

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

90,000 Painful periods – causes and treatment

Menstruation is a natural physiological function of all women of reproductive age.Also, this period is called critical days, and for many women they are really critical – intense pain, headache, nausea, upset stools and general malaise, and so on every month from year to year.

According to statistics, 30-50% of women between the ages of 14 and 45 go through similar torments. Unfortunately, not everyone turns to gynecologists for help, believing that this is normal, because occurs in many, and no one has died of this yet, also hoping that over time everything will work out.

• Firstly, to endure pain is not only abnormal, but also fraught with consequences for the nervous system, and the systematic use of analgesics only helps to reduce pain, but does not solve the problem and will not lead to anything good (the body sooner or later gets used to the drug being taken, and you will need more and more powerful painkillers, or, on the contrary, the sensitivity to pain will gradually “wear off”, and the cause of the disease will only progress, but without pronounced manifestations, which leads to neglect of the disease).
• Secondly, pain itself is not a normal phenomenon, it is a signal from your body that something is wrong, that it needs help. Therefore, consulting a gynecologist for painful periods is just a necessary step on the way to your women’s health and a quiet life.

Like any other disease, painful periods, and not everyone knows that it is the disease called algodismenorrhea that has causes that can and must be eliminated.That is, the treatment of painful periods (algomenorrhea) is possible.

Causes of painful periods

Algomenorrhea (painful periods, algomenorrhea, dysmenorrhea) is of two types: primary and secondary.

Primary algomenorrhea is called functional, since it is not associated with anatomical abnormalities of the internal genital organs. While secondary algodismenorrhea is a consequence, or rather, a symptom of a number of gynecological diseases, such as endometriosis, chlamydia, chronic inflammation of the uterine appendages and malformation of the internal organs of the genitourinary system.

Causes of primary dysmenorrhea

Most often, primary dysmenorrhea manifests itself in adolescence during puberty, when the hormonal background is not as stable as in adult women. The main cause of primary dysmenorrhea is an increase in hormone levels. According to the body’s reaction to an increase in the level of one or another hormone, painful periods of this type can be conditionally divided into two groups:

• Adrenergic – associated with increased levels of dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine.The condition is characterized by severe headache, fever, impaired bowel function (constipation), the skin on the face and body is very pale, and often cyanotic on the feet and palms, which is associated with a slowdown in the passage of blood through small vessels. Sleep disturbances in the form of insomnia are observed.
• Parasympathetic – associated with increased levels of serotonin in the cerebrospinal fluid. In this case, most of the symptoms are opposite to the adrenergic type of primary dysmenorrhea: low body temperature, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased heart rate, facial edema.Weight gain is possible a day or two before the onset of menstruation, as well as reactions on the skin of the face.

According to the results of recent studies, in addition to hormonal disorders, the causes of primary dysmenoria can also be abnormalities in the development of connective tissues, vascular disorders, disorders of sexual and other body functions.

However, most often, primary dysmenorrhea is caused by a violation of the hormonal background. This manifestation of painful menstruation is diagnosed and treated jointly by a gynecologist and an endocrinologist.

To solve this problem among the fair sex at a young age, it is necessary to turn to pediatric gynecology, where gynecologists will find a special approach to any patient without traumatizing the adolescent psyche.

Causes of secondary dysmenorrhea

Secondary dysmenorrhea most often occurs in women over the age of 30. Since the causes are pathological in nature, the pain syndrome with concomitant ailments can be very intense, up to a temporary disability.

Reasons:

• External and internal endometriosis is the most common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea. Pain with endometriosis during menstruation lasts 2-3 days and has an aching character. Endometriosis itself is a fairly common disease, which, if neglected, can lead to a number of chronic diseases, including infertility.
• Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
• Tumors of the genital organs.
• Dilation of the pelvic veins.
• Adhesive changes after surgery.

Diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea is also not difficult, and the cause of painful periods can be quickly identified by tests and ultrasound (ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs).

Depending on the results of the examination, you will be prescribed either therapeutic or surgical treatment. In any case, it is by no means possible to delay a visit to a gynecologist, due to the fact that secondary dysmenorrhea is, in most cases, a sign of pathology, which, without proper attention, can develop into a whole bunch of chronic diseases and infertility.

So, you need to contact a gynecologist if you experience severe ailments during your period.

3 main degrees of manifestation of painful periods

• Moderate pain with slight general malaise. At the same time, the working capacity of a woman is rarely disturbed, and the level of vital activity practically does not decrease. However, I would like to note that such a rather mild form of dysmenorrhea without timely referral to a gynecologist can eventually develop into a more severe one, associated with increased malaise and the duration of painful conditions.
• The second most common case is a case characterized by severe pain in the lower abdomen, general weakness, nausea, headaches, frequent urination, chills. In addition, a woman may experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and become irritable. Many patients with this form of dysmenorrhea (algomenorrhea, painful periods) have insomnia, intolerance to various odors, and increased appetite. Efficiency is noticeably impaired, and it is often necessary to take appropriate medications, selected exclusively with the help of a specialist.
• The third degree of dysmenorrhea (painful periods) manifests itself in excessive pain in the abdomen and lower back, pronounced general weakness, severe headaches, fever. There is vomiting, diarrhea, heart pain, tachycardia, fainting is not uncommon. In such a state, the activity decreases to almost zero, and the intake of painkillers (for example, analgesics) does not give any effect, further traumatizing the woman’s weakened body. With such manifestations of dysmenorrhea, it is impossible to hesitate in contacting a gynecologist, since most often such symptoms are associated with an anomaly of the internal genital organs.

Head of the gynecological department

Karapetyan Gayane Artavazdovna

Toxic Shock Syndrome: “I almost died, although I never used tampons”

• Ellie Kent
• BBC Three

February 11, 2019

Warning: Some descriptions and photos in this story may shock you

Those who had their first periods in the 90s know that it is absolutely impossible to leave a tampon overnight.There have been many horror stories in the media about a dreaded bacterial infection called toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which can lead to flaky skin, hair loss, amputation of limbs and even, in the worst cases, death.

TSS is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria Staphylococcus or Streptococcus (group A streptococci). They exist without risk to health on the skin, nose or mouth of a person, but they can be harmful if they enter the bloodstream and release toxins.

The risk of infection is increased if you have an open wound such as a cut or burn, use female protective contraceptives, have some throat or skin infections, or leave the tampon for longer than the recommended time, which can quickly multiply harmful bacteria.

The incidence of TSS is believed to have peaked in the UK in the early 1990s – about 40 cases per year, resulting in two or three deaths. In the United States, where they talked about the “toxic shock crisis”, in 1983, 2,200 people became victims of this disease.

Since then, the number of patients has decreased significantly, in part due to changes in the production of tampons. News of this infection has all but disappeared from the headlines, and awareness of its causes and symptoms has dwindled.

However, in December last year, there was shocking news that an American gymnast, 30-year-old Anna Norkvist, fell ill with TSS, and doctors had to amputate both of her limbs. The peculiarity of her story is that she is not associated with the use of tampons.

There are more non-menstrual TSS infections in the UK today than during menses, which means men, children and women without menstruation can also develop TSS.

“I didn’t think a man could get TSS”

Alex Lewis was 33 when he got sick.He “had never heard of TSS and had no idea what it was.” The man ran a pub and lived a fairly active life.

One autumn day, he noticed that strange things were happening to him. “At first there were symptoms of the common flu, which is understandable for this time of year, especially since my son had a cold and the pub was full of people who were coughing and sneezing all the time.”

A few weeks later Alex woke up at night to go to the bathroom and noticed blood in his urine.

“It was then that I realized it was bad,” he recalls. – When I woke up in the morning, my wife and son had already left. I was semi-conscious and could hardly move. “

Alex remembers that his skin turned purple, but he did not know why.

” My wife came home, looked at me and called a doctor, “says the man.

Condition Alex quickly deteriorated, doctors had to connect him to an artificial life support system

First, the man was diagnosed with Weil’s disease, a rare infection, the main carriers of which are rats.

“It was only after a doctor who had previously encountered TSS in South Africa began to observe me and found all the symptoms that I was diagnosed.”

Doctors covered Alex’s internal organs to prevent the spread of infection. In such a situation, only 3% of patients have a chance to survive. And he challenged fate and a few days later came out of a coma.

“It seemed that now that I came to my senses, the worst is over,” he says.

He was wrong.The infection spread throughout the body and it killed him.

Alex was examined by a plastic surgeon. “She greeted and involuntarily said that my left arm above the elbow and both legs were being amputated. And she left.”

The man was seized with panic: “My first reaction was: I won’t do it.”

He was given a sedative and fell asleep. The next morning, Alex realized that most of all he wanted to live. “And amputation is a condition of my survival. Therefore, we gritted our teeth and withstood this blow.”

Alex’s limbs were amputated.He remembers well how he woke up after the operation. The pain was unbearable. But the biggest blow was yet to come.

The surgeons said they had to amputate half of the face and lips.

Alex’s mouth was reduced to the size of a fivepence coin. Breathing, speaking and eating were extremely difficult. And what he saw in the mirror changed his relationship in the family.

“Before I got sick, I spent a lot of time with my son. We were very close. But after all the amputations, he was afraid of me.”

Alex founded a charitable foundation to inform and help others fight this terrible disease.

Now the man is convinced: there is no need to postpone the visit to the doctor – especially for men.

“It’s important to know what to fear. Early diagnosis can save your health and life,” says Alex Lewis.

I got TSS due to the contraceptive coil

A few hours before hospitalization, Cecilia, then 21, was enjoying her friend’s birthday party.Returning home, the girl felt a tremor in her body, so she decided to take a warm shower.

And the longer she tried to keep warm in the shower, the more she got a fever. Everything happened very quickly, and Cecilia realized that she needed to go to the hospital.

After examining her, the doctors gave only a 20% chance of survival. Then there was vomiting, convulsions, delirium, and finally – septic shock. Just a few hours ago, Cecilia was “running, swimming and having a great time at parties.”

“I had all the signs of toxic shock syndrome – a burning rash similar to sunburn.For most people, it covers the whole body, but I have spots between the thighs, on the feet and palms of the hands.

Subsequently, the rash stopped hurting, and the skin began to peel off. On the legs it could be removed simply in layers. “

Only on the fifth day of her stay in the hospital, she was diagnosed with TSS.

The reason is an untreated urinary infection. toxic shock syndrome.

Even now, three years later, the girl feels tired and anxious.

“I was lucky to have survived. The treatment was very difficult. I put in a lot of effort to recover, both physically and mentally.”

“My daughter got TSS at the age of seven”

7-year-old Gabi got TSS in August last year. The girl knew nothing about tampons and had never seen them.

“It all started with an impetigo infection,” says Gabi’s 34-year-old mother, Christina.- There was only a small spot, and we did not even suspect that the infection had penetrated deep into the skin. Her body itched and she just screamed in pain. “

The symptoms were like sunburn. The skin was peeling under the arms, soles and face.

” After numerous diagnoses – from nut allergies to scarlet fever – the ambulance took Gaby to the burn department of the local children’s hospital. Her skin just burned and no one could figure out the reason. ”

The final diagnosis was made in just two weeks.

Five months later, Gabi continues to treat the side effects of the disease.

“The legs are cramped, the skin is very sensitive to the sun and heat. She has lost a lot of hair, which is just starting to grow back,” says Christina. “She also missed her first month of school. She has fallen behind in her studies and is trying to make friends. She was afraid to go back to school while her skin was peeling because she didn’t want to be seen like this. ”

Toxic shock syndrome can develop at any age.The main symptoms to look out for are fever, nausea and diarrhea, sunburn-like rash, headache, muscle pain, and fever.

Although there are not so many cases of TSS, however, if you feel that you have contracted this disease, contact your doctor immediately.

Living with endometriosis: the mysterious state of health

Author: Female staff

Menstrual cramps are no joke: throbbing pain, bloating that follows, desire to wear sweatpants for a week in a row.There is little you can do to relieve the pain, but take the pain reliever and wait. However, if you experience severe pelvic pain during your menstrual cycle, you may have a more serious medical condition. Living with endometriosis can be painful at times. However, you still have options.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects more than five million women in the United States and occurs when uterine tissue, also known as the endometrium, is located in the wrong place, such as outside the uterus or on nearby organs.In a healthy menstruating woman, the endometrium grows inside the uterus and sheds every month during menstruation. In women with endometriosis, tissue cannot leave the body when it sheds during menstruation. This causes severe pelvic pain and other symptoms that cause discomfort.

What are the first signs of endometriosis?

Living with endometriosis can be painful at times. Many women usually describe the pain as more severe than normal menstrual cramps. Endometriosis symptoms include:

• Severe pain during menstruation
• Pelvic pain at any time of the month
• Painful urination or defecation during menstruation
• It hurts to sit down during your period
• infertility
• Bloating, constipation or diarrhea during menstruation
• Great fatigue during menstruation

Causes of endometriosis

The cause of endometriosis is unknown.However, the medical industry suspects that the accumulation of uterine tissue in the fallopian tubes is causing the tissue to flow into the abdominal cavity. In addition, the risk of developing endometriosis is increased in those with a family history of it.

Diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis

Laparoscopic surgery detects and diagnoses endometriosis. The surgeon inserts a small camera into the abdomen to check the endometrial tissue. If the surgeon detects endometriosis, he may remove the tissue with a laser or other surgical instruments.

In addition, hormonal drugs such as birth control pills and medications may help. They also block estrogen and progesterone, relieving pain and other symptoms.

Endometriosis and pregnancy

If you want to get pregnant and have endometriosis, tell your doctor or gynecologist right away. Some medicines used to treat endometriosis can harm the fetus. In most cases, your doctor will advise you to continue taking your endometriosis medication before you try to get pregnant.

If you have pelvic pain and other symptoms associated with endometriosis, make an appointment with your gynecologist. Alternatively, find an obstetrician-gynecologist in the women’s care department. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can start treatment and return to a healthy and pain-free life.

If you are experiencing endometriosis symptoms, please make an appointment with your doctor here.

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