With the limited sex education I was given in school, the information about periods was extremely scarce. We were instructed about cramps and PMS, but there was zero mention of the existence, or ways to navigate “period poops.” Your period can make you poop more or less, and it can come in many forms: constipation, bloating, diarrhea, or even all of the above. But do you know why you are experiencing changes in your bowel movement, before and during your period? This article will delve into the science behind it, and ways to make your experience a little less shit (pun intended).
How do periods affect our poops?
Hormones are what you want to blame for your sudden increase in poops. Before your period starts, progesterone levels rise in order to prepare for a possible pregnancy. When menstruation begins instead of pregnancy, your body increases levels of prostaglandins, whilst progesterone levels fall. It is prostaglandins that encourage your womb muscles to contract to help break down the uterine lining and resulting in the hell that is menstrual cramps. In terms of poop, if your body produces more prostaglandins than necessary, it can enter the bloodstream and affect muscles, including the bowels and other digestive organs, and result in more frequent trips to the toilet. Lower levels of progesterone can also result in diarrhea.
Constant constipation?
Even before your period begins, you may experience a change in your bowel movements. When progesterone levels rise prior to your period in order to thicken the uterine walls, it can also slow down your digestive system. This slower digestion rate can result in constipation and can be accompanied by stomach aches and lumpy poops. Bodyform, one of the UK’s leading period protection brands, further explains that “if you eat foods that are fatty and less fibrous thanks to your PMS food craving, then this can also have an effect.” For people with existing digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, or other health conditions like endometriosis, period-related poop problems may be more severe.
Stinky but normal
During one of your trips to your toilet, you may notice that your period poops smell worse than normal. Whilst your nose might say otherwise, this is completely normal. A change in smell is most likely a result of your premenstrual eating habits, with progesterone causing unusual food cravings. This change in your eating habits can be the cause of this stinky stools, and even result in period farts (also a result of fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone). Your gut bacteria also changes during your period, which can produce extremely fragrant flatulence.
Should it hurt to poop?
There are many things that can cause pooping pain whilst on your period. Constipation can make stool hard, and in turn make it painful to pass. Whilst straining to pass a bowel movement, you may also experience a flare in menstrual pain. This can be made worse by an increased sensitivity to pain that happens during your period. You may also experience stomach cramps as a result of diarrhea.
What can help period poops?
Everyone poops and there’s no avoiding that. It is entirely normal to have some smelly and weird poops, prior to and during your period. If it’s diarrhea getting you down, taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen (or Advil) just before your period starts can block prostaglandin production and reduce diarrhea. It also comes with the bonus of easing period cramps. For those struggling with constipation, making an active effort to eat more fiber-full foods can help. Whether that be munching on a kiwi, blending some spinach into a smoothie, or snacking on some nuts and seeds - eating the high fiber foods should ease constipation pain.
If it’s diarrhea getting you down in the dumps, you may want to keep tabs on what you are consuming. Certain foods and drinks, especially caffeinated drinks like coffee can make diarrhea worse — and result in you taking more tricks to the toilet. If you notice a certain food or drink makes your period diarrhea worse, it may be worth cutting back on them on the days leading up to your period. Additionally, your body loses a lot of fluids when it comes to loose bowel movements, so it is essential to drink plenty of water and drinks containing electrolytes–but not high in sugar!--to stay hydrated.
If you can’t seem to find relief from your period poop problems or are having severe, persistent problems, it could be an underlying gastrointestinal or gynecological condition. OB-GYN Christine Greves explains that “you should not be in a situation where you’re afraid to go to a meeting or go out with friends because you’re worried you’ll have diarrhea,” or any other poop-related accident. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms are persistent or get worse, or if you are beginning to experience severe cramps, heavy periods, rectal bleeding or mucus in your stool. Experiencing a change in your pooping habits before and during your period is normal and something many people experience, but being in excruciating pain is not normal.
By Stephanie McCartney