Heres How Pregnancy Affects Your Poop
You already know that your hormones fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle, and you might also know that these hormonal changes can make your poop real weird around the time of your period. Thats largely thanks to a hormone that helps prep your body for pregnancy called progesterone.
Progesterone levels increase after ovulation, anticipating that the egg your ovaries just released will be fertilized, the U.S. National Library of Medicine explains. If you dont become pregnant, progesterone levels fall back down, and you get your period. If the egg does get fertilized and you do become pregnant, your levels of progesterone will continue to rise, Mary Rosser, M.D., Ph.D., an ob-gyn at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, tells SELF.
How does this early pregnancy progesterone surge affect poop? One of the hormones many effects is to relax smooth muscles, like your uterus and intestines. While relaxed intestines might sound like a recipe for the loose, speedy bowel movements that characterize diarrhea, that isnt what actually happens. In fact, without your GI muscles contracting as hard to move things along, food passage starts to slow down and bowel movements become sluggish, G. Thomas Ruiz, M.D., an ob-gyn at Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SELF.
My Monthly Period & Symptom Tracker
My Monthly Period & Symptom Tracker is an easy way to keep track of your menstrual flow, and its also a way to keep track of cramps, and/or PMS and period symptoms each month There are other ways of tracking your periods and symptoms including apps available for iPhones and Android phones talk to your HCP to determine what method will best work for you.
- Review the sample Monthly Period & Symptom Tracker.
- Print out copies of My Monthly Period & Symptom Tracker.
- Put a check mark in the appropriate box for each day of the month. If you dont have any flow or any symptoms on any given day, leave the box empty. Refer to the Blood Flow Key at the bottom for Flow definitions.
- The dates at the top are the same as the dates in one month. Each month has 30 or 31 days .
- Remember to bring My Monthly Period & Symptom Tracker with you to your medical appointments.
Throwing Up On Period: Causes Of Vomiting First Day Easy Treatment
Question: Why do I keep throwing up on period? Is vomiting first day of period sign of pregnancy?
There are many things a woman wont take for granted, and PMS symptoms before period is one of them.
During this time, its common that some women get different signs, and sometimes, its possible symptoms will continue until after period starts.
Days before the start of menstruation, most women get an on-off cramps and back pain. Depending on the severity of the cramps it could affect your regular routine.
Apart from cramps that some women experience, nausea before period is quite common, and the truth is, if you are unlucky, you may also experience vomiting. These symptoms can happen before your menstrual period and continue into your period.
If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting during period, you are not alone. Heres an email I received from Amyla
Apart from being a sign of period coming, nausea and vomiting could be a sign of pregnancy. So, if you are expecting your period, and then experience nausea, vomiting, heavy breasts, back pain, and light vaginal bleeding it could be pregnancy.
Having said that, if you cant hold food down and you are vomiting for days or weeks, its likely something else. Other serious causes of vomiting are food poisoning, gastritis, endometriosis, and cancers.
Don’t Miss: Does Cream Of Wheat Help You Poop
What Is Period Poop
People who get periods have probably noticed that their bowel movements may stray from their normal during a period or menstrual cycle. Some experience constipation or diarrhea, while others may experience pain. It may be a different consistency or smell than times outside your menstrual cycle. Many people may also note a change in their bowel movements just before their cycle starts, during their premenstrual time .
Get Some Milk Alternatives
For lactose-intolerant people, it is important to note that dairy products can cause a great deal of discomfort and bloat.
So, if you are a lactose-intolerant person, consider getting some milk alternatives.
Or simply have your milk without the added dairy products.
Most importantly, while you are trying to live your life in a way that is healthier.
It is important to know that your body is responding to the water in your body by producing more colostrum.
In other words, you are trying to bring back the balance to your digestive system, which is vital for your health.
Don’t Miss: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea
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 such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which can reduce the cramping effects of prostaglandins,” Dr. Mandal recommends.
Managing Diarrhea During Your Period
Women who often experience bouts of diarrhea during their period should prepare for what is about to come.
“Try some agent that will slow down,” says Marrero, such as Imodium or Kaopectate . “If women can predict when it’s going to happen, they can start taking medication before symptoms start.” If the diarrhea is only occasional or isn’t bothersome, you don’t have to do anything, since you know it will pass quickly.
Don’t Miss: Can Tramadol Make You Constipated
Why Does Period Poop Sometimes Smell Bad
Not only does progesterone affect the movement of food, but it can also affect your eating habits in the days leading up to your period. Progesterone has been linked to binge eating before and during your menstrual cycle . Changes in your eating habits can affect your stool odor, which may be why period poops can smell worse than regular bowel movements. If youre typically someone who eats relatively healthy most of the time, a drastic change in your diet can lead to foul-smelling bowel movements.
Tell Me: Why Do Some People Get Diarrhea Before Or During Their Period
While more studies are needed to determine *exactly* why, research suggests that hormone-like substances called prostaglandins and the sex hormone progesterone could be to blame, says Dr. Greves.
Heres what happens: A few days before your period, the lining of your uterus begins to break down and releases prostaglandins, which cue the smooth muscles in your uterus to contract. If you have an excess of prostaglandins, though, your uterus could really start squeezing . If that contract, now! message spreads even further, your intestines might start to get movin’, too. When that happens, whats inside doesnt have much of a chance to harden, which might be why you get period diarrhea.
Towards the end of your cycle , your progesterone levels go up. More progesterone stops all of those contractions and tells your bowels to slow downwhich is where period-induced constipation can come in .
Certain conditions can exacerbate the situation, too. Some women who have a retroverted uterus , for example, have more bowel issues because the uterus pushes down on the large intestine.
Keep in mind, though: This is a general guide to how your period might mess with your digestive system, but everyones different, says Dr. Greves. The key is to pay attention to your own pattern and learn how to cope accordingly.
Recommended Reading: Are Probiotics Good For Colitis
Can Diarrhea Before Period Be A Sign Of Pregnancy
If you are very concerned about your health and feel you are pregnant, there are other ways to know if you are pregnant before missed period.
One effective way is implantation bleeding that occurs one week before period. Other signs of pregnancy are a delayed period, increased clear watery discharge, fatigue, breast pain, frequent urination, mood changes and nausea.
Apart from these signs, constipation and diarrhea can be a sign of pregnancy.
During early pregnancy, your body produces different hormones that affect your digestive system resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea.
Diarrhea Before Period: When To Worry
Apart from hormonal changes that are beyond your control, you could have diarrhea for a different reason. Sometimes, it could be due to what youve eaten, other times it could be due to a serious health problem.
In fact, you should see your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms
If you have any of these signs, dont wait, talk to a doctor about your symptoms quickly. Here are some reasons you have diarrhea before your period that wont go away
Recommended Reading: Diarrhea From Eating Salad
Here Are Some Tips To Alleviate Diarrhea During Your Period:
Prostaglandins, the main cause of diarrhea during your period, are pro-inflammatory agents so the best way to limit their impact is to add more anti-inflammatory foods to your diet. Here are some suggestions:
- Curcumin I recommend making a turmeric paste and eating it every day. Youll find many recipes online and you can add it to meals, soups and smoothies! Or take it as a supplement.
YAY for targeting these pro-inflammatory trouble makers at their roots. Read all about prostaglandins and painful periods here.
Digestive issues related to my period used to be the bain of my existence! But knowing why they happen and when they are most likely to occur changed my life!
To get a clear picture of your own specific digestive changes throughout your cycle, I recommend that you track your bowel movements so that you can isolate these patterns. Most period tracking apps have a feature that allows you to include this kind of information so I recommend using these tools to help you demystify your defecation! .
Videos provided by Coloplast UK.
When To See Your Doctor
However unpleasant it may be, if your nausea is tolerable, theres probably no need to see a doctor. But if the nausea is bad enough that youre having trouble going about your daily life, check in with your doc.
If youre experiencing other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, chills, or a fever, seek medical attention to rule out anything more serious than an impending period.
Read Also: Baking Soda Cures Heartburn
Why Do You Poop More On Your Period
Blame it on hormones. Each month, just before your period begins, fatty acids known as prostaglandins begin to relax the smooth muscle tissues inside your uterus to help it shed its lining.
But those same prostaglandins can have a similar impact on your bowels, leading to you guessed it more poop, and even diarrhea.
It makes sense if you think of the cycle, Dr. Ford says. Until ovulation, the uterus is preparing to accept the egg and, once it starts, the opposite happens its cleansing to get ready for the next cycle.
For people with existing digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohns disease, period-related poop problems may be more severe.
Is There Some Trick To Wiping
Period poop can get messy. Without a tampon in, it can look like a crime scene when you wipe.
Pre-moistened wipes can be your best friend during your period. Look for wipes that are biodegradable and also free of perfumes and chemicals, so you dont dry out or irritate your skin. So-called flushable wipes arent recommended for your septic system.
You can also finish off with some wet toilet paper if you dont have wipes on hand.
If you cant seem to find relief from your monthly poop issues or are having severe or persistent symptoms, an underlying gastrointestinal or gynecological condition could be why.
Some common conditions with symptoms that are influenced by your menstrual cycle include:
Don’t Miss: Do Bananas Help With Bloating
Why They Smell So Bad
The smell. Oh, the smell.
There are a few reasons why period farts smell have such a unique scent. The main reason being that your gut bacteria change during your period, which can make flatulence extra fragrant.
The food you eat also contributes to the smell. But its not all your fault that you want to and maybe do eat all the junk when on your period.
Period cravings are very real. Theres evidence that high progesterone levels related to your period trigger compulsive eating and dissatisfaction with your body. Together, these can make it hard to muster the energy to care about what youre eating.
Reaching for dairy, starchy carbs, and sweets change the smell of your farts for the worse and can cause constipation.
Speaking of constipation, the buildup of poop can cause bacteria and odor to develop, too, making for some even smellier toots.
Farting is a biological process that we cant really get away from. Even smelly farts are pretty normal. This doesnt mean youre destined to clear a room for three to eight days every month until menopause, though.
Causes Of Headache During Period
The main trigger might be the drop in the hormone estrogen that happens before you menstruate.
Birth control pills can worsen the symptoms of a migraine. Your estrogen levels plummet and your headaches get worse when you take placebo pills or no pills at all, during the week of your period. If youre prone to headaches, taking birth control pills that have low amounts of estrogen or only progestin may help.
Genetics are also thought to play a role. Women who have a headache during period tend to have a combination of factors that trigger their headaches.
Menopause and perimenopause are also one of the main causes of a bad headache during period. This is due to the fluctuating hormone levels.
Further causes might include:
- getting too much or too little sleep
- intense lights, sounds, or smells
- severe weather changes
- alcoholic beverages, especially red wine
- too much caffeine or caffeine withdrawal
Also Check: Ibs Xanax
Higher Levels Of Prostaglandins
Before the start of your period, the cells in your uterus begin to release prostaglandins to kick start contractions that shed the lining of your uterus.Prostaglandins may also be released into your bloodstream. While prostaglandins do a good job of getting the walls of the uterus to contract as part of your monthly menses , these hormones can also cause the muscles of the intestines to contract. This can cause symptoms such as:
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
Additionally, prostaglandins may cause the body to absorb more water and make stools softer, causing diarrhea. This may be worsened if you drink coffee while on your period, as caffeine has a laxative effect.
The Straight Poop On Periods: Gut Aches Be Gone
So why does your digestive system go crazy during that time of the month? We tapped Raquel Dardik, MD, clinical associate professor of gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center, to get some answers.
Youre not imagining things if you tend to feel bloated and constipated right before you get your period. During the second half of the menstrual cycle, your body is making more progesterone, which happens after you release an egg, Dardik says.
Thats a good thing, but it comes with a frustrating side effect: Progesterone slows down contractions of the bowel, so it slows down how quickly food and gas move through. Everything slows down and backs up, so you feel bloated and constipated.
To add insult to injury, once your period starts, some women find themselves dealing with the opposite problem for the first day or 2: diarrhea. The diarrhea and cramping is a double whammy, says Dardik.
Two things are likely at play:
- Progesterone levels drop, which revs bowel contractions back up again so food may pass along quicker than before.
- Prostaglandins, hormone-like substances released by the uterus, trigger uncomfortable cramps.
Some cramps cause pain, and they can also give people diarrhea. Because the one thing you need during period cramps is that to brighten your day.
Menstruation is a sign that your sexual organs are behaving themselves and your hormones are in check.
These include:
- methylcellulose
- osmotics such as magnesium hydroxide and polyethylene glycol
Don’t Miss: Does Colostrum Heal Leaky Gut
Vomiting On Period: When To Worry
Most time, women who experience vomiting during period will not have any other symptom. In fact, in most women, hormone changes with high prostaglandins is the cause.
Having said that, if you are throwing up all the time, something is wrong. Here are other reasons you cant keep food in your stomach.
Week 3 And Week : Staying In
Progesterone is higher during your Week 3 and Week 4, which is the second half of your menstrual cycle spanning the day after ovulation through the day before your next period. This is important to know because elevated progesterone prompts two key changes in bathroom behavior: It makes it more difficult for you to move your bowels by triggering hard stools or constipation.3 It also prompts water retention, leading to bloating and possibly fewer trips to empty your bladder than you experienced in your Week 1 and Week 2, the first half of your menstrual cycle.
Depending on your personal sensitivity to progesterone, these hormone-fueled bathroom effects may last all the way through the day you get your period or they may lighten up a few days before your period starts, unleashing softer stools and spurring more frequent bathroom trips to empty your bladder.
So, why is progesterone being so greedy with your food and beverages, not allowing them to easily pass through in this phase of your cycle?
Researchers suspect that this hormone wants your body to hold onto whatever you ingest longer as a way to sap more nutrients from them in case you got pregnant during ovulation and now need nutrients for two.
If constipation is bothering you, try eating more fiber-rich foods along with drinking more water. Fiber and water work hand-in-hand to move stool. Plus, there are two study-backed natural treatments to try before resorting to drugstore laxatives:
Don’t Miss: Is Pickle Juice Good For Heartburn