Overview
Have you ever encountered the sudden need to poop at the start of your menstural cycle? If yes, you have experienced period poops, stools, or irregularity due to your period. It happens due to changes in your body’s hormonal balance. You can experience other GIT changes, including diarrhea, cramps, and nausea in the first few days of your period. Usually, the period poop stops after the first two days of your menstural cycle. Yet, it can be managed by consuming a clean diet, staying hydrated, and requiring OTC medications for nausea, vomiting, and cramps.
What are period poops?
Period poops are specifically the normal movement during the first 2-3 days of your menstural cycle. They can be loose motion or constipated stool due to changes in your body’s hormonal balance. In most cases, people experience diarrhea and loose stools, while some face constipation along with cramps.
“Period-related digestive changes, like ”period poop,” are common due to fluctuating hormone levels, particularly prostaglandins, which can cause the muscles in your intestines to contract more, leading to diarrhea or more frequent bowel movements” – Dr. Jennifer Ashton, OB-GYN.
Why do I poop so much on my period?
The frequency of passing bowels during your period can increase from the expected frequency, and it mainly stems from the changes and fluctuations in the body’s hormone levels. Some of the most common causes for why you poop so much on your period are :
- Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are responsible for contracting the uterus during the menstural cycle and making the uterus shed its lining, which ultimately results in bleeding. They can also affect the intestines, causing more frequent or looser bowel movements during your menstrual cycle.
- Progesterone drop
Right before your menstrual cycle starts, the progesterone hormone levels in your body drop. This drop can also affect the frequency of bowel movements and make you poop more than usual.
- Gut motility
Gut motility increases when your menstrual cycle starts, making the digestion process fast. Which in turn can lead to more frequent visits to the washroom for passing the bowel or poop. It’s a common phenomenon experienced by alot of individuals.
- Dietary changes
Dietary changes and cravings before or during the cycle can be one of the main causes leading to gastric changes and digestion patterns. It might lead to stomach upset and causes more frequent period poop.
- Water retention in the body
The body retains water before menstruation, and when the period starts, this water is often released, contributing to more bowel movements. It is more likely to cause frequent loose, watery diarrhea during the first two days of periods.
- Stress and mood changes
Emotional stress or mood swings, often linked with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), can also impact your gut health, contributing to changes in digestion.
Why does it hurt to poop on my period?
There could be several reasons why it hurts to poop on your period, including constipation due to an increase in progesterone, menstrual cramps that make it hard to poop, hemorrhoids, or swollen pain in the anus area leading to pain when you pass a bowel or endometriosis, where tissue that acts like endometrial tissue implants outside the uterus and causes pain.
Other gynecological causes like ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids can also be the cause of pain when you poop during or after your period.
Why does period poop smell so bad?
Are you wondering why your poop smell suddenly changed when you poop during your period? It’s because of the cravings that we are having in the luteal phase of the cycle.
Progesterone, estrogen, and prostaglandins fluctuate during your menstrual cycle.
Progesterone can increase feelings of hunger and cravings for fatty or sugary foods, which can be hard to digest. These changes in eating habits can affect the smell of your stool.
You can avoid it by resisting the urge to eat fatty or processed foods that can change the way your period poop smells.
Can you poop with a tampon in?
Yes. You can poop usually with the tampon in due to the simple human anatomy. You insert the tampon in the opening other than the anus, while poop comes out from the anus/rectal area.
Even though it’s practically possible to poop with the tampon on, it’s important to take it out from a hygiene perspective. It’s quite possible that the string hanging out from the tampon might get some of the bacteria from the poop, which might develop an infection in the area. So, it’s definitely not worth taking a risk. It’s good to change the tampon and take the previous one out every time you poop during your period!
How to stop period poops?
Usually, the more frequent period poops subsides after the first two days of your period. If it takes a while, you can consult your healthcare provider for the right prescription drugs to address the problem. Some of the most prescribed medications to stop period poops are :
Prescription Medications
Healthcare providers usually prescribe birth control pills, antispasmodics, and prostaglandin inhibitors to stop or decrease period poop and treat the cramps/pain alongside poops.
Over the counter Antibiotics
Anti-diarrheal (e.g., loperamide) are over-the-counter options prescribed not to stop the poops but lower the frequency of passing watery diarrhea during your period. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) are also prescribed for cramps management during your period.
Home Remedies
Some easy-to-follow home remedies are staying hydrated and consuming plenty of fluids during your period. This will also avoid constipation. Avoiding trigger foods like high-fat or spicy dishes can reduce digestive discomfort while eating fiber-rich foods helps regulate bowel movements.
When to consult a doctor?
Consult your healthcare provider when:
- You have consistent period poops even after the first two starting days.
- The cramps stay for a more extended period/ throughout your period.
- Over-the-counter and home remedies don’t work to lower the poop frequency during your period.
Connecting with an online doctor will help you get the correct and timely diagnosis and effective treatment tailored to your medical needs.
FAQs about period poop
Period poops can be different in terms of smell, nature ( loose or constipated), and frequency (more than usual) due to hormonal fluctuations and dietary changes in the body. It can also be due to water retention in the body that happens before your period.
Usually, the color of the poop color doesn’t change due to period unless and until there are drastic changes in diet or any underlying medical condition. You might experience red spots or black/brown specks in your poop due to bleeding in the anus or rectum. In such instances, consult your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and prescription.
