Wait, why are period poops like that and is it normal?
Here, an ob-gyn gives the low-down on your menstrual cycle’s effect on your bowel movements.
One crucial piece of info that was left out of the conversation?
Alex Sandoval
Your poops might be pretty gnarly, too.
In fact, you may experience some digestive discomfort andconstipationleading up to menstruation, too.
Throughout your cycle, levels of these hormones ebb and flow.
Progesterone levels, on the other hand, start to increase during ovulation andpeakroughly a week later.
Likewise,the increased amount of progesterone can lead to constipation, she says.
“Progesterone slows gut motility, which means food moves slower through the digestive tract.
But if you’re not pregnant, it could just mean extra time spent pushing on the porcelain throne.
And as the lining is sloughed off, the level of prostaglandins declines, according tothe ACOG.
“[This] can trigger more discomfort with bowel movements and cramps, even intestinal-like cramps.
Regardless of what your period poops look like, know that your symptoms won’t last for long.
Staying hydratedcan also make your period poops more pleasant, as it can help prevent constipation, says Dr. Certain over-the-counter medications can provide relief as well.
“Those can actually be a part of your period product regimen.
“As I tell my patients; if it bothers you, it bothers me,” she adds.
