your poo and menstrual cycle

In a drop 🩸:  Ever noticed a chance in your stool when on your period? You're not dreaming: our menstrual cycle influences our 💩.

I've been on my period this week, and yet again my poop has changed! So this week, we're diving into why exactly that is the case. 

Because I know I'm not alone in this, and there are biological reasons for it too! 

Let's dive in: 

🩸our primary reproductive hormones are oestrogen and progesterone, but receptors for these are not just in our reproductive organs: they're everywhere, including.... our gut! 

They influence the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract:

🩸usually, higher progesterone in our luteal phase (just before period) leads to slower movement of food, liquid, and waste through the digestive tract in the gut, leading to constipation.

🩸as hormone levels drop before and during your period, this usually leads to the opposite effect i.e. diarrhea or looser stools 💩

On top of this, during menstruation, our body releases prostaglandins to help the uterus contract to shed its lining (leading to cramps). They can also affect certain intestinal muscles leading to more intense bowel symptoms during your period. 

If you have IBS, this most likely makes you extra sensitive during your period

Here's to pooping our hearts out during our periods, and finally understanding why!