Illustration by Marta Pucci
The truth about your period poop
The menstrual cycle and bowel movements
Top things to know:
Rising progesterone levels before your period can slow movement through the intestines, making constipation more likely
During your period, prostaglandins can speed up movement through the intestines, leading to diarrhea or loose stools
"Period poops" are not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but if you have IBS, hormonal shifts around your menstrual cycle may make your symptoms worse
Tracking your bowel habits alongside your menstrual cycle in the Clue app can help you spot patterns over time
What are period poops?
“Period poops” is the term people often use to describe changes in bowel habits before or during their period (1). These changes can include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting (2).
Diarrhea tends to be more common during your period, while constipation is more likely in the days before bleeding starts (1). While the opposite can happen, it’s less common (1).
Why does your period change your digestion?
Throughout your menstrual cycle, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone rise and fall (3). These hormones affect more than the reproductive system (4). Research suggests they also act on the smooth muscle tissue of the gut, which helps move waste through your intestines (4).
Estrogen may also affect how sensitive your digestive system is to pain or discomfort, which could help explain why symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits can vary throughout the menstrual cycle (5).
When it comes to period poops, progesterone and prostaglandins play two important roles.
In the days before your period, progesterone levels are at their highest. This can slow movement through the intestines, making constipation more likely (4).
Once your period begins, prostaglandins help the uterus contract to shed its lining. They may also speed up movement through the intestines, potentially leading to diarrhea or loose stools (4).
Here’s how prostaglandins and progesterone affect the gut throughout the menstrual cycle.
Progesterone: Why you might be constipated before your period
Progesterone is a hormone that rises after ovulation and reaches its highest level before menstrual bleeding begins (6). Its main role is to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy and support it if conception occurs (7).
Research shows that the muscles of the digestive tract contain progesterone receptors (proteins inside and on the surface of cells that respond to progesterone) (8).
It’s thought that when progesterone binds to these receptors, it slows down the muscle contractions that move waste through the digestive system (4,8). As a result, constipation is more common in the days leading up to your period (1,4).
Prostaglandins: The cramp and diarrhea connection
Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that the body produces from fatty acids (9). They play several roles in the body, including protecting the stomach lining, helping with blood clotting, and triggering inflammation and pain in response to injury (9).
During menstruation, they help the uterus contract to shed its lining (10). Higher levels of prostaglandins cause stronger uterine contractions, which are thought to contribute to period cramps (11).
Prostaglandins are also produced in the gut, where they may stimulate the smooth muscle that moves waste through the intestines (12).
It’s also possible that prostaglandins released during menstruation contribute to more frequent bowel movements, although researchers are still studying exactly how this happens (12,13).
Prostaglandins may also change how fluids and electrolytes (minerals like sodium and potassium) move through the intestines (13). Together, these effects may lead to looser stools, diarrhea, or more frequent bowel movements during the first few days of your period (4,12,13).
Can ibuprofen help with period poops?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, work by blocking the enzyme that the body uses to produce prostaglandins (14). Because prostaglandins contribute to menstrual cramps, NSAIDs are commonly used to relieve period pain (14).
They may also help some people with period-related digestive symptoms, although there's limited evidence that they relieve diarrhea (14).
If you’re considering using an NSAID to manage digestive symptoms during your period, discuss it with a healthcare provider first. These medications can have side effects and are not appropriate for everyone (15).
Is it period poop or IBS?
Period poops are generally tied to your menstrual cycle, and most often occur in the days just before or during menstrual bleeding (4).
IBS, on the other hand, is a chronic condition that causes recurrent abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits, including constipation, diarrhea, or both (16).
Healthcare providers typically diagnose IBS when someone has abdominal pain at least once a week for at least three months, with symptoms starting at least six months before diagnosis (17).
The pain must also be linked to at least two of the following (17):
It’s related to having a bowel movement
It’s associated with a change in how often you have bowel movements
It’s associated with a change in what your stool looks like
People with IBS or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may notice that their gut symptoms change around their cycle (17,18).
For example, people with IBS often experience more abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea around their period compared to people without IBS (18).
They may also be more likely to experience constipation during the luteal phase, when progesterone levels are highest before menstrual bleeding begins (17).
A healthcare provider can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to your menstrual cycle or another digestive condition.
The gut-brain connection
Your digestive system and brain are constantly communicating through a network of nerves, hormones, and chemical signals (19). This is known as the “gut-brain connection” or the “gut-brain axis” (19).
Stress can influence this connection. For example, people with more severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) often report higher levels of stress before their period (20). In response to stress, the body releases stress hormones that can increase gut sensitivity and speed up movement in the intestines, which may contribute to digestive symptoms (19).
Research also suggests that mood and digestive symptoms often occur together throughout the menstrual cycle.
In one study of more than 33,000 menstrual cycles tracked by Clue users, people who reported mood symptoms were also more likely to report GI symptoms across all phases of the cycle (21). However, researchers are still studying exactly how these symptoms influence one another (21).
Tracking both your mood and digestive symptoms in the Clue app may help you notice personal patterns and give you useful information to share with a healthcare provider.
Can hormonal birth control help?
Hormonal birth control may help. Combined hormonal contraceptives, including the pill, patch, and vaginal ring, contain synthetic estrogen and progestin that work together to suppress ovulation (4,22).
They also thin the uterine lining and reduce the natural rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone throughout your cycle (4,22).
A thinner uterine lining usually produces fewer prostaglandins, which may lead to lighter bleeding and less menstrual cramping (23).
Combined oral contraceptive pills have also been shown to reduce period pain compared to a placebo (an inactive pill) (24).
For some people, lower prostaglandin levels may also mean less stimulation of the intestines and fewer digestive symptoms around their period (4,25). Although prostaglandin changes still occur to some degree even when using hormonal contraceptives (4,25).
If digestive symptoms around your period regularly interfere with your daily life, talk with a healthcare provider about whether hormonal birth control could be an appropriate option for you.
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How to manage period poops day to day
There’s limited research on how to treat digestive symptoms that occur specifically around menstruation. The tips below are based on general recommendations for managing diarrhea and constipation and may help ease period-related digestive symptoms.
If you get diarrhea during your period
When you have diarrhea, your body loses fluids quickly, and staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do (26).
Drink plenty of fluids
Water, soups, and broth can help replace the fluids and salts lost through diarrhea (27). Oral rehydration solutions, which contain water, sugar, and electrolytes like sodium and potassium, can also help replace lost fluids and minerals (27).
Avoid certain beverages.
Some people find that fruit juice, sugary sodas, dairy products, and caffeinated drinks worsen diarrhea (26).
Coffee and other caffeinated drinks can stimulate the intestines, potentially making loose stools or digestive discomfort worse (28). Keep in mind that caffeine is also found in tea, energy drinks, and kombucha (29).
If you get constipated around your period
A few dietary and lifestyle adjustments may help relieve constipation before your period:
Increase your fiber intake gradually
Fiber adds bulk to stool and helps soften it, making it easier to pass (30,31). Good sources of fiber include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and bran (26).
If you're using a fiber supplement, increase it slowly to help reduce bloating (31).
Stay hydrated
Drinking enough water throughout the day, especially when increasing your fiber intake, may improve constipation more than increasing fiber alone (32).
Move your body
Regular physical activity may help lower the risk of constipation, although evidence specific to menstrual-related constipation is limited (33).
Managing abdominal pain and cramping
Because prostaglandins can trigger contractions in both the uterus and the gut, some people experience menstrual cramps alongside digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain (4,13).
A few things that may help:
NSAIDs: These medications may help relieve menstrual cramps and abdominal discomfort by reducing prostaglandin production (15).
Still, NSAIDs can affect the stomach, kidneys, and heart in some people (15). Always follow the recommended dosage and speak with a healthcare provider before using them regularly for period symptoms (15).
Heat: Applying a warm compress or heating pad to your lower abdomen may help relax abdominal muscles and relieve menstrual cramping (35).
While heat is widely recommended for period pain, research specifically on its effects on period-related digestive symptoms is limited.
When to see a healthcare provider
Digestive changes around your period are common, but some symptoms may be a sign of an underlying condition or require prompt medical attention.
Contact a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
Black or tarry stools, or bright red blood in your stool (26)
Diarrhea that lasts more than two days (26)
A fever (26)
Severe abdominal pain (26)
Vomiting alongside GI symptoms (36)
Signs of dehydration, such as dizziness, dry mouth, or dark urine (26)
Pain with bowel movement or urination during your period, which may be a symptom of endometriosis (37)
Pain during sex (38)
Heavy or very painful periods (38)
Tracking your digestive experiences can help you keep an overview of your GI symptoms throughout your cycle. As you document your symptoms, including changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, when symptoms tend to appear, and what, if anything, helps relieve them, you create a more detailed and reliable record than memory alone can provide (39).
Share this information with your healthcare provider to help you both identify your body’s patterns and make informed decisions for your care (39).
The importance of tracking with Clue
The Clue app makes it easy to go one step further when it comes to keeping a record of your symptoms. Alongside your cycle information, you can also track your bowel habits in the app to help you see whether digestive symptoms tend to appear at the same points in your cycle.
You can also track other experiences, such as mood, sleep, and exercise. Looking at these patterns together may help you identify what improves or worsens your digestive symptoms and, over time, provide useful context for conversations with your healthcare provider (4).
It may also help determine whether your symptoms should be evaluated further for conditions such as endometriosis or IBS (39).
Routine tracking—rather than only tracking when something feels wrong—can help build a more complete picture of your health over time (41). After a few months of consistent tracking, patterns may become clearer, making it easier to have focused, informed conversations with your healthcare provider (40).
FAQs
Why does period poop smell so bad?
There's very little research on why stool odor may change during your period. We do know that gut bacteria naturally produce compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, which contributes to stool odor (42).
Changes in how quickly stool moves through the intestines during menstruation may affect the production of these compounds, but this has not been studied specifically in the context of menstruation (43).
Why does it hurt to poop during my period?
Prostaglandins trigger contractions in both the uterus and the gut (4). Because of this, some people experience menstrual cramps and abdominal discomfort during bowel movements (4,13).
If pain is severe or persistent, talk with a healthcare provider about getting evaluated for an underlying condition (17,39).
Can hormonal birth control help my period poops?
Hormonal birth control may help. Combined hormonal birth control can help stabilize hormone levels, thin the uterine lining, and reduce prostaglandin production. This may lead to lighter periods, less cramping, and, for some people, fewer digestive symptoms around menstruation (4,22,23,25).
