Skip to content

IBD and Your Period: All You Want to Know and Then Some

Worse IBD Symptoms During Menstruation?

If you feel like your IBD symptoms become worse during your period you’re definitely not alone. Menstruating individuals who have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis often report worsening of symptoms during menstruation. Here you’ll find the most comprehensive guide on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and menses on the internet. Guaranteed or your money back! 

Feel free to use the table of contents below to quickly access the information you are looking for.

Table of Contents

What Causes Symptoms to Become Worse During That Time of the Month?

Is it Hormones?

The exact cause of worsening GI symptoms for folks with IBD during menstruation remains unclear and has hardly been studied. One idea is that hormones are to blame. The gonadal hormone prostaglandin could be one contributing factor. Prostaglandins are an important element of the inflammatory process in active IBD because prostaglandins are made at sites of tissue damage or infection where they cause inflammation as part of the healing process. Prostaglandins are also responsible for the contraction of smooth muscle in the intestines which may cause more frequent trips to the bathroom during your period if there is an excessive release of this hormone from the uterine cavity. Painful periods, known as dysmenorrhea, are linked to having too much or an imbalance of prostaglandins and arachidonic acid metabolites.

Illustration of female reproductive system

What the what?

Prostaglandins are hormones that help control several different processes in the body like smooth muscle contraction, the menstrual cycle, and causing inflammation as part of the bodies healing process. Since this hormone is responsible for smooth muscle contraction you may experience more frequent trips to the bathroom during your period. Muscle contractions = spasms and cramps. If a lot of this hormone is released it could create more contractions in your gut which would result in more bowel movements. 

Prostaglandins regulate the female reproductive system and are involved in the control of ovulation and the menstrual cycle. These hormones are released by the endometrium (inner mucous membrane of the uterus) during menstruation, causing contraction of smooth muscle in the uterus that results in the cramping pain you are familiar with during your period. Because of this, symptoms attributed to menstruation and IBD may overlap. 

What in the?

Simply put: Those darn hormones prostaglandins are at it again with their ability to cause smooth muscle contractions. Not only is it responsible for the contraction and relaxation of the muscles in the gut, it’s also released from the uterus during your period and causes cramps. It could become confusing to determine whether or not the pain and other symptoms you are experiencing are because of IBD or because of your period, and sometimes it could be both. It has not been specifically studied but it is possible that women may experience an exacerbation of symptoms of IBD during their periods.

Is it Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Another thing that could be making you feel worse during your period is iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a common problem for patients who have Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Symptoms of IDA include fatigue, pale skin, dizziness, rapid heart rate, reduced performance, and headache. If you experience heavy periods, known as menorrhagia, it could contribute to worsening symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.

Do Patients with IBD Experience More or Worse Symptoms During Menstruation Compared to Those Without IBD?

In a study comparing 47 menstruating people with IBD who were either in remission or had mild disease activity to 44 healthy females without IBD, premenstrual symptoms were significantly higher in the group who had IBD. Abdominal pain, nausea, flatulence, and the urge to evacuate the bowels were much higher in the patient group compared to the group who did not have IBD. Diarrhea, straining, and constipation didn’t seem to vary too much between the two groups. Of the systemic symptoms studied, depression, acne, headache, anxiety, edema, and breast pain also showed little difference between the two groups. 

The study evaluated premenstrual, menstrual, and post-menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle. A significantly higher number of stools, loose stools, and more severe abdominal pain occurred in the group who had IBD. Though the study had limitations, “it highlights the fact that IBD patients are more likely to report PMS and GI symptoms than healthy women, without exacerbation of disease specific symptoms.” 

In another study aimed to investigate the correlation between worsening GI symptoms and the menstrual cycle they compared 49 patients with ulcerative colitis, 49 patients with Crohn’s disease, 46 patients with IBS, and 90 healthy controls. Though 93% of all females in the study reported premenstrual symptoms they were reported statistically more often by patients with Crohn’s disease. Those with Crohn’s disease were also more likely to report increased GI symptoms during menstruation with diarrhea being the symptom reported the most. Compared to the healthy controls the patients in the disease group had a significantly higher cyclical pattern to their bowel habits. These cyclical symptoms included abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. 

Previous slide
Next slide

Source: Sunanda V. Kane, MD, MSPH

Females in the disease groups reported more cyclical symptoms, diarrhea, and abdominal pain compared with the healthy controls. 

So what does it all mean?

Both studies show that almost all menstruating persons report changes in bowel habits during their menstrual cycle whether they have IBD or not. Gastrointestinal symptoms seem to become more prominent in IBD patients during menstrual periods, as indicated by previous studies, probably due to changing levels of prostaglandins. Menstrual pain and menstrual-related gastrointestinal symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from the symptoms related to inflammatory bowel disease. GI’s should be aware that worsening symptoms may not be due to disease exacerbation but could be due to menstruation. This implies that menstrual cycles should be considered by GI’s in the clinical setting. 

Irregular Periods and IBD

Aside from an increase in symptoms during your period IBD may also contribute to irregular or absent periods. A normal menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, plus or minus seven days. Menstrual bleeding is considered irregular if it occurs more often than every 21 days or lasts longer than 8 days. Missed, early, or late periods are also considered signs of an irregular cycle.

In one study menstrual abnormalities such as irregular periods, loss of period (secondary amenorrhea), never having a period (primary amenorrhea), painful periods, and heavy bleeding were reported in 58% of 360 women with Crohn’s disease.

Causes of irregular periods:

Causes of Absent Periods (Amenorrhea) in IBD

Surgery and Your Period

  • Of menstruating individuals who have had surgery related to their IBD, heavy periods and irregular bleeding occurs in 60% of those with Crohn’s disease and 53% of those who have ulcerative colitis.
  • Among females who have had restorative proctocolectomies with ileo-pouch anal anastomosis (J-pouch) surgery: one study reports that 31% of women who have had J-pouch surgery experienced menstrual problems after surgery vs 23% who did before surgery. 
  • Menstrual patterns were similar before and after surgery in females who have had proctocolectomies.
  • There seems to be a high rate of menstrual abnormalities with IBD but it has not yet been explained. One idea is that those whose IBD was severe enough to require surgery would probably experience more menstrual abnormalities. 
  • Impaired ovarian function due to multiple surgeries, the stress of chronic disease, or poor nutrition could cause abnormal periods. 

What You Can Do to Improve QoL During Menstruation

Easing the Pain

Illustration of girl clutching her abdomen with a pained expression on her face

Here are some things you can use to reduce pain during mensus:

And that concludes today’s post!

Sara

Click the image to the left to save to Pinterest
Like this post and want to reference it later? Click the image to the left. You can also check out my award winning Pinterest boards by clicking the button below.

Sources:  

1. Kane, S. V., Sable, K., & Hanauer, S. B. (1998). The menstrual cycle and its effect on inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome: A prevalence study. The American Journal of Gastroenterology Am J Gastroenterology, 93(10), 1867-1872. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.540_i.x

2.  Bharadwaj, S., Barber, M. D., Graff, L. A., & Shen, B. (2015). Symptomatology of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease during the menstrual cycle. Gastroenterol. Rep. Gastroenterology Report, 3(3), 185-193. doi:10.1093/gastro/gov010

3.  Lim, S. M., Nam, C. M., Kim, Y. N., Lee, S. A., Kim, E. H., Hong, S. P., … Cheon, J. H. (2013). The Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Study. Gut and Liver Gut Liver, 7(1), 51-57. doi:10.5009/gnl.2013.7.1.51

4.  Stein, J., & Dignass, A. U. (2013). Management of iron deficiency anemia in inflammatory bowel disease – a practical approach. Retrieved July 26, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3959949/

5.  Ballinger, A. B., Savage, A. M., & Sanderson, I. R. (2003). Delayed Puberty Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Pediatric Research, 53(2), 205-210. doi:10.1203/00006450-200302000-00002

6.  Feller, E. R., MD, Ribaudo, S., MD, & Jackson, N. D., MD. (2001, November 15). Gynecologic Aspects of Crohn’s Disease. Retrieved July 26, 2015, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/1115/p1725.html#afp20011115p1725-b12

7. You & Your Hormones. (2013, October 24). Retrieved from http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/prostaglandins.aspx

8. Tigas, S., & Tsatsoulis, A. (2012). Endocrine and metabolic manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease. Retrieved July 26, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3959350/

9.  Mamula, P., Markowitz, J. E., & Baldassano, R. N. (2008). Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. New York: Springer.Pages 141-143

10.  Weber AM, Ziegler C, Belinson JL, et al: Gynecologic history in women with inflammatory bowel disease. Obstet Gynecol 86:843-847, 1995.

11. Metcalf AM, Dozois RR, Kelly KA: Sexual function in women after proctocolectomy. Ann Surg 204:624-627, 1986.

12. Wikland M, Jansson I, Asztely M, et al: Gynaecological problems related to anatomical changes after conventional proctocolectomy and ileostomy. Int J Colorect Dis 5:49-52, 1990.

13. Menstruation abnormalities linked to IBD in pathogenesis.

14. Inflammatory Bowel Disease – A Complicating Factor in Gynecologic Disorders?

Show