Diarrhea during your period is common for many people and is usually not a cause for concern. Here you can find out what causes diarrhea and how you can relieve it.
Gas, bloating, cramps and then diarrhea – periods can be a particularly challenging time for many. Digestive problems are still a taboo topic in our society. This can lead to those affected hiding their symptoms, feeling alone with their symptoms and not taking enough care of themselves.
However, diarrhea during your period should not be a taboo topic. Because most menstruating people know the symptom. This makes it all the more important to talk about the causes and possible remedies.
Diarrhea during your period: what’s the cause?
According to the health magazine Everyday Health, the exact reasons why diarrhea occurs during your period have not yet been sufficiently scientifically researched. However, doctors suspect that diarrhea and period cramps have the same cause – namely hormonal changes during the cycle.
According to gynecologist Dr. Sheila Christiane de Liz produces so-called prostaglandins. These are messenger substances that enable the uterus to contract. This allows the body to shed the excess mucous membrane during menstruation. But according to Everyday Health, it’s not just the uterus that contracts, but also the intestines. This leads to diarrhea or flatulence.
American gastroenterologist Francisco Marrero also emphasizes to Everyday Health that the type of digestive problems can vary from person to person. Depending on your individual hormonal balance, constipation can also occur during your period. Depending on the person, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and nausea can also occur about a week before your period as part of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
According to gynecologist de Liz, constipation typically occurs shortly after ovulation. Because then the body releases the hormone progesterone. Its function is to relax the muscles. The intestinal muscles also relax and the intestines become sluggish.
It’s best to observe for yourself how your digestion develops during your cycle. If you know your cycle well, you can prepare for problems or prevent them in good time.
Diarrhea during your period: This helps
If you regularly suffer from diarrhea during your period, the following tips can help you:
- Make sure you drink enough. Finally, when you have diarrhea, you lose more fluids than usual.
- You can also alleviate the symptoms through your diet during your cycle. According to Marrero, extra fiber can help make loose stools firmer. According to Netdoktor, pectin also helps: it swells in the intestines and can therefore bind fluid. Pectin is found in apples, bananas and carrots, for example. Our grated apple recipe is an example of a local diarrhea remedy you can try. Note that to do this you need to grate the apple with a very fine grater. It should almost look like mush.
- You should also eat a diet that is gentle on diarrhea. Gentle foods that can relieve diarrhea include potatoes, oatmeal, rusks and rice. Another example of such a dish is the classic gruel soup.
- Gastroenterologist Marrero also recommends eating probiotic foods (such as sauerkraut or other fermented vegetables) if you have diarrhea during your period. The lactic acid bacteria it contains support a balanced intestinal flora.
- According to the experts, even light exercise can potentially help against diarrhea and cramps during your period. For example, try regular walks, some yoga or cycling.
- Marrero recommends taking medication to slow down diarrhea before the first symptoms appear. However, if diarrhea only occurs occasionally and is mild, this is not necessary. In any case, seek medical advice and clarify which medication would be suitable for you.
- If you have particularly severe menstrual problems such as period cramps, persistent severe diarrhea or other problems such as blood in your stool, you should seek medical treatment as quickly as possible. Then a serious illness could be the cause.
Edited by Jennifer Watzek
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