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.
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
Topics
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