Many women experience the symptoms of menstruation and diarrhea together during their monthly cycle. This is thought to be the result of an excessive amount of a compound known as prostaglandin which is produced in higher amounts by the uterus during the menstrual cycle. Prostaglandins cause both muscle relaxation and contractions that help gather and move the uterine lining out of the uterus. If too much of the compound is produced, it can travel to the rest of the body, including the colon, where it can cause diarrhea.
The process that causes the connection between menstruation and diarrhea begins just before a woman's monthly cycle begins, when cells in the uterus begin to generate increased numbers of prostaglandins. Once menstruation begins, the compounds cause a greater number of contractions in the uterus, allowing it to efficiently expel the lining. Problems associated with making too many prostaglandins start in the uterus, where high levels of the compound can cause stronger and more painful contractions.
When excess prostaglandin begins to travel through the bloodstream, the reaction responsible for the direct connection between menstruation and diarrhea begins. Once the blood has carried the compound to the large intestines, which are lined with smooth muscle similar to that of the uterus, it causes them to contract faster and more forcefully than usual, causing the bowls to expel their contents prematurely. . High levels of prostaglandins are also often the cause of the vomiting, headaches, and nausea that many women experience during menstruation.
Since prostaglandin causes muscles to relax and contract, adverse symptoms resulting from excessive amounts of the compound may be lessened if the elements that cause muscles to relax are increased. This can be helped by increasing the levels of liblenic and linoleic acids in the body. These acids are most commonly found in fish and vegetables.
Menstrual symptoms and diarrhea that occur during a monthly cycle can be relieved in several ways. Eating healthy and exercising properly can help symptoms by improving overall health. Relaxing with a heating pad on your lower abdomen or back can directly address pain. An over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen can reduce the inflammation associated with diarrhea and menstruation. General cramping can also be reduced by avoiding caffeine, refined sugars, red meat, and high-fat foods.