Overview
Nausea during your period can be a real downer, turning an already tough time into an even more challenging experience. This uncomfortable feeling often stems from your body’s hormonal rollercoaster each month. Prostaglandins, hormone-like substances, increase during menstruation, causing your uterus to contract and sometimes leading to gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea. Additionally, fluctuating estrogen levels can affect your digestive system, adding to that unsettling feeling in your stomach. This article will explore the potential causes and treatment options for managing nausea during periods.
Is nausea normal during your period?
Feeling nauseous during your period is a common experience for many women and is generally due to hormonal changes. Along with nausea, you might also endure menstrual cramps, headaches, and other symptoms that can intensify the discomfort. The body releases prostaglandins during menstruation, which can trigger these hormonal shifts, and some women are more sensitive to these changes than others.
What causes nausea during the period?
There are several causes of nausea during menstruation, each varying in severity. Paying attention to your other symptoms is important to determine the underlying cause.
Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstrual cramps, is the most common cause of nausea during periods. Primary dysmenorrhea is due to increased uterine contractions triggered by higher levels of prostaglandins, which control uterine contractions. These prostaglandins can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs, leading to nausea. Secondary dysmenorrhea is related to other medical conditions like endometriosis. Menstrual cramps often involve the lower abdomen, hips, thighs, and back. High levels of prostaglandins can cause lightheadedness, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and even vomiting.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS includes a range of physical and emotional symptoms one to two weeks before a period. These symptoms continue into the period but usually subside after a few days. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle are believed to cause PMS. Along with dysmenorrhea, PMS can cause nausea due to increased prostaglandins and pain. Other symptoms include breast soreness, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, headache, back pain, mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, irritability, and sleep issues. PMS affects more than 90 percent of menstruating women, though the severity of symptoms varies.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is a severe form of PMS that disrupts daily life. It is also related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, but the symptoms are more intense and can lead to low serotonin levels in the brain. This imbalance causes significant emotional changes. PMDD includes the same physical symptoms as PMS, such as nausea and cramps, but also causes irritability, panic attacks, trouble focusing, severe fatigue, and paranoia. PMDD is less common, affecting about 5% of menstruating women.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it, affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and surrounding tissues. This tissue thickens and bleeds during your period but cannot leave the body, causing pain and inflammation. The pain can be so severe that it induces nausea. The tissue growing near the intestines can cause additional gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting. Other symptoms include fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, pain during sex, painful urination, painful bowel movements, heavy menstrual bleeding, and bleeding between periods.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
PID is an infection of the upper reproductive tract, often resulting from a sexually transmitted infection (STI) spreading to the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common causes. PID can also occur after childbirth or douching. Symptoms of PID include lower abdominal and pelvic pain, irregular periods, pain during sex, abnormal vaginal discharge, and painful urination. Severe PID can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. PID doesn’t only cause nausea during periods; it can cause symptoms between periods as well.
Many causes of nausea during your period are due to hormonal changes. Some are more serious than others, and some women experience them more intensely. If you ever experience severe or persistent nausea during your period, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
How do you stop feeling nauseous during your period?
If you feel nauseous during your period, there are several strategies you can try to alleviate your discomfort. Sometimes, just getting some fresh air or going for a walk can help. A cool compress may also do the trick. Ensure you drink plenty of water and stick to a bland diet. Ginger may also help; drink ginger ale or keep ginger-flavored candy on hand. Many people swear by drinking peppermint or chamomile tea. If none of those help, try taking an antacid.
Self-care tips
Exercising regularly throughout the month can help manage symptoms. Taking a warm bath, using a heating pad on your abdomen or lower back, and getting more sleep—especially right before and during your period—can also be beneficial.
Medical treatments
The treatment your doctor prescribes will depend on the underlying cause of your nausea. Depending on the cause, treatment may include the following types of medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These are a common treatment for menstrual pain. They work by reducing prostaglandins, which can relieve cramps and nausea. NSAIDs are available over the counter, so you don’t need a prescription. Commonly used NSAIDs include:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
PMS and PMDD may be treated with SSRIs. These antidepressants increase your brain’s serotonin levels and mainly treat emotional symptoms. SSRIs can cause nausea in some people, so your doctor can recommend one that causes minimal side effects.
Oral contraceptives
Birth control pills can control the hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle, which may help relieve some emotional and physical symptoms, including nausea during periods. They are used to treat heavy periods, painful periods, irregular bleeding, endometriosis, PMS, and PMDD.
Antibiotics
If you have PID, you’ll need antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for your specific infection. It’s important to finish your prescription, even if your nausea and pain go away, to reduce the risk of complications.
Home Remedies
In addition to medical treatments, some home remedies may help relieve nausea. These include:
- Ginger: A traditional remedy for nausea and cramps, ginger can regulate your body’s prostaglandins. Try ginger tea or lozenges.
- Peppermint: Peppermint extract helps reduce prostaglandins, which can ease nausea. Many people use peppermint aromatherapy or drink peppermint tea.
- Fennel: Fennel’s anti-inflammatory properties may help ease pain and nausea during menstruation. You can consume fennel as a capsule, tea, or tincture.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon contains a compound known as eugenol that may suppress prostaglandins. This can reduce menstrual bleeding, nausea, and pain.
- Bland foods: If you feel nauseous, eat bland foods until you feel better. Follow the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
- Controlled breathing: Deep breathing exercises may help relax your muscles and ease nausea.
- Acupressure: Nei Guan, or P6, is a pressure point on your inner wrist. Placing pressure here may help reduce nausea, headaches, and stomach upset.
How long does period nausea last?
The duration of menstrual nausea can vary depending on its underlying cause:
- PMS: Nausea caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) typically goes away within 12 to 16 hours after the start of your period but can last up to five to six days.
- Dysmenorrhea: Nausea resulting from dysmenorrhea, which is the medical term for moderate to severe menstrual pain, can persist for two to four days leading up to and at the start of your period.
- Period flu: Symptoms of period flu usually improve after a period begins and disappear by the time it ends, but episodes can last up to two weeks.
When should I be concerned about nausea on my period?
While PMS is common and can usually be managed with over-the-counter remedies, there are some situations where you should seek medical advice. For example, if you continuously experience severe nausea combined with vomiting, cannot retain fluids, and your symptoms progressively worsen, it’s time to consult a healthcare professional.
Consult a doctor
Feeling uncomfortable during your period is normal, but these symptoms should not interfere with your daily life. See your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Menstrual cramps that continue for more than 3 days
- Severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
Even though nausea is a common symptom during your period, if you have never experienced it before or it is accompanied by vomiting, dehydration, or weight loss, seek medical help immediately. Additionally, if you have a fever, severe pain, or unusual vaginal discharge, contact your doctor without delay.
FAQs about nausea during the period
PMS is the main cause of nausea before a period. Around 20 to 50 percent of women experience PMS in the 7 to 10 days before their period. By understanding possible causes and treatments for nausea before your period, you can manage symptoms effectively.
If you feel nauseous, stick to bland foods until you feel better. The BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—is a good option for easing nausea.
While bananas contain natural sugars, it’s important to be cautious about the amount you consume, especially in shakes or smoothies. Consuming a lot of sugar can potentially increase pain during your period.
