---
title: Do women with digestive problems experience worse stomach symptoms during their period?
description: Yes. Women with functional bowel distress reported significantly worse stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea during menstruation compared to women without bowel
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/pattern-of-gastrointestinal-and-somatic-symptoms-across-the-menstrual-cycle-1992/
---

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- Do women with digestive problems experience worse stomach symptoms during their period?

Survey study, 1992

# Do women with digestive problems experience worse stomach symptoms during their period?

Yes. Women with functional bowel distress reported significantly worse stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea during menstruation compared to women without bowel problems. They also had more stomach pain on other days of the cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

58 women total - 19 with functional bowel distress and 39 without

## What they did

Nineteen women with functional bowel distress and 39 women without were followed over two menstrual cycles. They rated their stomach symptoms, mood, bowel movements, and overall symptoms daily and completed a detailed menstrual symptom questionnaire. Blood samples measured hormone levels at three points during the cycle.

## What they found

Women with bowel distress reported stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea rated higher during menstruation. Stomach pain was also higher on other cycle days in the bowel distress group. Women with bowel distress reported more premenstrual symptoms on most of the questionnaire subscales. Hormone levels were similar between groups, and stool patterns did not differ significantly.

## What it means for you

Existing digestive problems get worse around the period, especially during menstruation. The hormone levels were the same in both groups, so the difference isn't explained by hormone variations. Why this happens is still unclear.

19

Women with bowel distress

39

Women without bowel distress

6 of 8

Symptom subscales higher in bowel group

## About the study

Original title Pattern of gastrointestinal and somatic symptoms across the menstrual cycle Authors Heitkemper MM, Jarrett M Journal Gastroenterology Year 1992 Study design Survey study Participants 39 What was tested None - observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0016-5085(92)90097-i](https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-5085(92)90097-i)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[IBS and gut symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ibs-gi/)

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## Related studies

Systematic review, 1998

Do stomach and intestinal symptoms change during the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2021

Is there a reliable tool to measure menstrual distress?

Review, 1998

How does the menstrual cycle affect other medical conditions?

Survey study, 2014

Which stomach and digestive symptoms occur around the time of menstruation?

Case-control study, 2006

Do women with IBS and period pain have worse symptoms?

Survey study, 2002

Does the menstrual cycle change gut sensitivity in women with IBS?

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