What is gas pain during your period?
You and your doctor can get rid of gas pains during your period using several medications and home remedies.
Hormones wreak havoc on a woman’s system during menses. Progesterone is a hormone that slows down your digestive system, especially during the latter half of your period. Many women begin to bloat a few days before their period even begins.
During this already painful time, gas can build up in your digestive tract and cause you to hurt even more. This is incredibly common: nearly 55% of women report gastrointestinal pain during their period.
There isn’t much you can to control the hormonal turmoil within your body, but there are several steps you can take to reduce the extra pain that is caused by gas.
Symptoms of period gas pain
Gas naturally builds up in your intestines, but your period can make your body produce more than usual. Gas symptoms generally accompany period gas pain — but they might be amplified.
Main symptoms:
- Burping
- Passing gas
- Pain in the abdomen
- Bloating
Causes of period gas pain
Period gas pain is caused by a buildup of gas in your gastrointestinal tract. The gas produced from the digestive process travels along with the food as it is digested. Since your digestive system has slowed down, the food you eat doesn’t travel as fast as it usually does through your system.
Gas is also the result of swallowing air from eating and drinking.
If you tend to eat or drink more during your period, you might be swallowing more air. This, combined with gas from digesting, can cause pain if too air much accumulates.
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Complications or side effects from period gas pain
A buildup of gas is not generally known to cause any health problems or symptoms other than pain. However, the pain can become excruciating if you aren’t able to release all of the gas that is building in your abdomen.
If you’re taking medication to prevent or treat gas pain, you might develop side-effects specific to the medicine. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the treatment they give you and the potential side effects.
Birth control pills change the release of some hormones in your body, so you might experience some mood changes, such as depression.
Laxatives and stool softeners make your stool soft and might give you diarrhea for the time you’re taking them. Simethicone can give you diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or a headache.
Gas might be a sign of other health concerns as well. Endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome commonly cause more gas to build up during your period, so make sure you ask your doctor about these conditions as well.