Diarrhea during menstruation

Critical days are not always accompanied by good mood and well-being. And if, in addition to all the unpleasant symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and increased irritability, characteristic signs of a disorder of the digestive system are added, this can cause alarm. Why diarrhea appears during menstruation and how to deal with this unpleasant phenomenon - all this will be discussed in this article.

Indigestion reasons

Let's consider the most common factors contributing to the onset of diarrhea in women during their periods:

• intensive production of gestagen - a steroid sex hormone involved in the renewal of the uterine lining. Gestagen helps to relax the muscles of the uterus and intestines, as a result of which, during menstruation, emptying occurs more intensively;
  

  Causes of diarrhea during menstruation

• change in taste habits during the menstrual cycle, due to which the fermentation process in the intestine is activated;
• excessive amounts of salt in food negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system;
• change in psychological state. During menstruation, women become more irritable and sensitive, which contributes to the appearance of stress, against which diarrhea can develop;
  

  Mood swings during your period

• increased levels of progesterone in the body. This is a progestogenic sex hormone that has a laxative effect on a woman's body during menstruation;
• indigestion. Typically, this phenomenon is accompanied by the appearance of other symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea;
• the consequences of taking birth control pills. It is no secret that all contraceptives have one common side effect - bouts of diarrhea.

In all of the above situations, an unpleasant symptom goes away over time on its own, you just have to reconsider the diet or refuse to take medications. But often diarrhea during menstruation occurs against the background of serious pathologies, which requires urgent medical attention.

Pathologies provoking diarrhea

Factors contributing to the onset of diarrhea may not always be natural. Often, a symptom occurs with serious pathological changes in a woman's body. Below are the most common diseases that are accompanied by bouts of diarrhea during menstruation.

Table. Diseases are the culprits of diarrhea.

Disease	Description
Algodismenorrhea	A cyclic pathological process, which is accompanied by bouts of nausea and vomiting, painful sensations in the abdomen and diarrhea.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract	Many gastroenterological diseases tend to exacerbate during menstruation. These include colitis, enteritis, etc.
Cystitis	A serious illness that is accompanied by inflammation of the bladder. When irritated, the bladder stimulates the bowels to function, resulting in diarrhea.
Endometriosis	Gynecological disease, accompanied by loose stools with blood impurities during menstruation. In this case, the woman suffers from painful cramps in the abdomen.
Bend of the uterus	Abnormal position and shape of the uterus, due to which the intestinal walls are irritated. During menstruation, the size of the uterus increases slightly, as a result of which it presses on the intestines, provoking its cleansing.

Note! This is not the whole list of pathologies in which diarrhea may occur in women during menstruation. Therefore, in order to exclude the likelihood of the presence of all these ailments and prevent the development of serious complications, at the first suspicious symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor for a diagnostic inspection.

When to see a doctor

Diarrhea is not always a cause for concern, so you should not rush to the doctor for short-term diarrhea. But if this symptom does not stop over a long period and is accompanied by other signs, then you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. You should be wary in such situations:

• the stool has changed its color (turned green or darker) and has a foul-smelling smell;
  

  What does the change in the color of feces mean?

• there are impurities of blood, mucus or small particles of undigested products in the feces;
• diarrhea is accompanied by painful sensations in the abdomen and an increase in body temperature;
• there are bouts of nausea and vomiting;
• there is a general weakness of the body and malaise;
• diarrhea does not stop for more than two days in a row.

Depending on the cause of the diarrhea and the severity of the accompanying symptoms, the course of therapy is prescribed on an individual basis. Diagnostic examination, which includes procedures such as ultrasound and laboratory tests, will help determine the factor contributing to the onset of diarrhea. Additional procedures will be assigned if necessary. Only after an accurate diagnosis has been made, the doctor prescribes the appropriate drugs.

How to treat

Depending on the factor that provoked diarrhea during menstruation, different methods can be used. therapies that include taking medication, adhering to a special diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle life. Let's consider the main recommendations to eliminate this delicate problem:

• therapeutic diet. As noted earlier, improper or unbalanced nutrition often leads to diarrhea, so treatment should begin with dietary changes. The daily menu must necessarily include weak green tea, rice porridge, low-fat chicken broth, yogurt and oatmeal. It is also necessary to observe the drinking regime and drink a sufficient amount of liquid every day (while the water must be warm);
  

  How to eat during your period

• the use of various decoctions prepared with medicinal herbs will help relieve irritation from the intestines. Typically, yarrow, calendula, or chamomile are used for diarrhea. If desired, a small amount of sugar or honey can be added to the prepared broth to improve the taste;
• taking medications. It is recommended to resort to drug treatment only in extreme cases. As a rule, doctors prescribe drugs such as No-Shpa, Drotaverin, Imodium and others to combat diarrhea. The dosage and duration of the therapeutic course is prescribed by the attending physician;
  

  "No-Shpa"

• throughout the entire therapeutic course, it is recommended regularly spending time outdoors, doing moderate physical activity, and taking vitamin supplements (prescription only);
• exclude from your diet foods that provoke intense bile production. These are foods that are high in fat;
• eating the right and healthy food is not everything, as you need to follow the correct diet. Avoid overeating as this can overload the digestive system. Doctors recommend eating often, but in small portions (this rule must be followed not only during treatment, but throughout life);
  

  Fractional nutrition

• from drinks for diarrhea is best suited still mineral water or fruit jelly. For a change, you can drink a decoction of nettle;
• in order not to continue to face bouts of diarrhea during menstruation, experts recommend completely exclude plums, dried apricots and other foods with a laxative effect from your diet a few days before the menstrual cycle.

On a note! It is extremely undesirable to resort to drugs for diarrhea, since the female body during menstruation is already quite weak and undergoes various difficulties. Therefore, it is undesirable to additionally load it with any tablets. Otherwise, you can get the opposite effect.

Often, diarrhea goes away on its own and does not pose a serious danger to a woman's body during menstruation. But if the symptom bothers for a long period or is accompanied by other alarming signs, then you should not postpone the visit to the doctor until later. Ignoring the problem that has arisen will only aggravate the situation.

Are there any complications

There is no reason to panic if loose stools are free of blood or mucus. As a rule, this is a protective reaction of the body (compensatory), due to which there is a cleaning of harmful and toxic substances. But with diarrhea during menstruation, it is necessary to monitor the change in the color and consistency of feces, since serious changes can be observed here. For example, stool odors become foul-smelling, discoloration, or slight blotches of blood may appear. All these phenomena should be the reason for contacting a specialist, because some features may indicate serious disorders in the body.

Another factor to watch out for in diarrhea is duration. Often, diarrhea appears a few days before the onset of menstruation, and ends after 1-2 days after that. In all other situations, there are various pathologies that require urgent medical intervention. In such cases, diagnostics is carried out: laboratory tests, ultrasound for examining the pelvic organs. Severe diarrhea cannot be ignored, as the consequences can be very serious. In addition, many women, based on the advice of their friends, resort to self-medication using drugs such as antidiarrheals. But during menstruation, they can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor, therefore, in order to avoid serious complications for the body, immediately seek help from a specialist.

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