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Menstruation & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Menstruation can definitely have an effect on irritable bowel syndrome. IBS by itself can be uncomfortable and painful enough, but the change in hormone levels during a woman's period can worsen symptoms. Fortunately, there are some ways that women with IBS can manage the severity of the symptoms they experience.

  1. Menstruation

    • Menstruation, more commonly referred to as a period, is part of a woman's menstrual cycle. During this time the uterus lining is shed. Menstrual blood and uterine lining passes through a small opening in the cervix and then out of the body through the vagina. A menstrual period will last approximately three to five days, though many women have periods that are up to seven or eight days in length.

    Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that is characterized by abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. While it can be painful and stressful, the condition is not life-threatening, nor does it cause harm to the digestive tract or lead to a more serious disease or even cancer. Up to 20 percent of adults suffer from IBS, and it is more commonly found in women than in men.
      There is no cure for IBS, but it can be managed through stress management, a careful diet and medication.

    Why Menstruation Affects IBS

    • Irritable bowel syndrome can worsen during menstruation because of the increased amount of progesterone that is in the body. Progesterone triggers uterine cramping, which can also lead to spasms of the gastrointestinal muscles. A study done at the University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester England, in 2001 and published in the journal, Gut in 2002, found that menstruating women with irritable bowel syndrome reported more abdominal cramping, bloating and rectal sensitivity than menstruating women who were not afflicted with the disorder. Researchers concluded that sex hormones may be to blame for the increase in symptoms during this part of the menstrual cycle.

    How Menstruation Affects IBS

    • Many female IBS sufferers report bowel-habit changes during different times in their menstrual cycle. Women who are prone to more constipation often have more frequent bowel movements during menstruation. According to IBS Research Update, almost half of women with IBS suffer from an increase in IBS symptoms during their periods. Symptoms that often increase during menstruation are abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea.

    Preventing IBS from Worsening During Menstruation

    • Relaxation, abdominal hot packs, physical activity and even anti-depressants can help reduce the unpleasant symptoms of IBS, particularly during menstruation, when they can intensify. MotherNature.com reports that William E. Whitehead, research professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, recommends the use of anti-depressants because they lower sensitivity to pain and also because they reduce the amount of a bowel-contracting chemical made in the brain.

      Maintaining a diet that consists of lean food choices and small portions can also keep bowel irritation to a minimum. Medication that squelches bowel spasms can also be used. Finally, give in to the urge to be a picky eater. If you know that there are certain foods that trigger your IBS to start up, avoid them. Common irritants that sufferers of IBS should avoid include alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, spicy foods, raw fruits and vegetables and even sorbitol, an artificial sweetener.

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