Why Do Women Suffer from Bloating and Constipation?
Common gut disorders in women
There are some gut disorders which are more common in women. These range from autoimmune diseases of the liver to functional and neuro-motility disorders of the gut, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bowel disorders.
Learn about digestive health for women and their common symptoms so you can take better care of your health.
Digestion and your menstrual cycle
Many women experience alterations in their bowel habits and abdominal symptoms at various points in their monthly menstrual cycle.
Typically, women feel bloated and constipated สนใจสมัคร? คลิกที่นี่เพื่อเริ่มต้น pre-menstrual, and have looser stools during their menses. Learn about the healthcare needs of women
Bloating before and during your period
It is common for women to feel bloated before their period, and for some women this may continue into the early part of their period as well.
This is associated with changing levels of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen that cause the body to retain more water and salt. This is what causes the sensation of bloating.
Other factors that may make bloating worse include high consumption of salt, caffeine and alcohol.
Why you get diarrhoea or constipation during your period
A woman’s body goes through many changes before and during her period.
Among them is the increased production of prostaglandins, a hormone-like chemical. It assists in the contraction of the uterus, which is felt as menstrual cramps. Similarly, high levels of prostaglandins also cause the bowels to contract, which can cause diarrhoea.
Some women experience constipation instead. This may be caused by rising levels of progesterone, which slows down your digestive system. Women who also have conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or endometriosis may be particularly affected.
While these symptoms you experience around your period are normal due to hormonal fluctuations, in women who suffer from IBS, these symptoms and bowel changes can be much more severe.
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
IBS is a condition where there is abdominal pain and/or discomfort which is associated with a change in the frequency, form or nature of stool.
Unlike gastroenteritis, where a patient falls ill and recovers quickly, IBS is a chronic condition that can last for years.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
IBS symptoms may be persistent, or they may briefly resolve and recur later. These include:
- Stomach pain or cramps
- Bloating
- Gas or flatulence
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Passing of mucous
- Fatigue
Women who have IBS tend to experience symptoms around the time of their period, or experience more symptoms then.
Some experts estimate that 50% of women with IBS suffer worse symptoms before or during their period. This is due to fluctuating hormone levels that have an impact on the gastrointestinal (GI) system, making GI symptoms more severe.
What are the causes of IBS?
There are many factors that contribute to IBS, including:
- Stress
- Genetics
- Previous gut infection
- An imbalance of the gut microbiota
- An over-sensitivity of the nerves in the gut
- Diet, especially relating to a group of foods referred to as FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed by the small intestine and cause digestive distress in some individuals)
There is no single cause, and some or all of these factors interact together to result in the symptoms of IBS.