Many women wonder about the increase in Irritable Bowel Syndrome as soon as the menstrual cycle begins, which increases and doubles menstrual pain. Is there a relationship between IBS and the menstrual cycle? In this article, we will learn together about the relationship between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the menstrual cycle, the reason behind the increased severity of symptoms and pain during this period, as well as ways to treat them.

The researchers confirmed, according to several studies, that changing the levels of female sex hormones secretion during the menstrual cycle provokes different responses in the digestive system in women with irritable bowel syndrome, and these hormones include the following:

These studies revealed the presence of female sex hormone receptor cells throughout the digestive system of women, and therefore the disruption of hormones during the menstrual cycle affects the functions of the digestive system, especially in patients with IBS or IBD.

During the menstrual cycle, women with irritable bowel syndrome suffer from several symptoms besides the symptoms of the menstrual cycle itself, and these symptoms include the following:

Abdominal pain. Increase in gases. Back pain. Headache and fatigue. Insomnia. Increased sensitivity to certain foods, such as legumes.

Usually, the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome during the menstrual cycle are very annoying, and you need attention to avoid increasing their severity, and it is recommended to follow the same guidelines for treating IBS symptoms at any other time, and it is preferable to follow the following steps, including the following:

Avoid foods that stimulate colon pain. Drink plenty of fluids, especially anise and chamomile. Get enough sleep. Doing exercise. Make sure to eat at regular times. Pay attention to eating foods rich in fiber. Avoid exposure to stress and anxiety as much as possible. Avoid foods that cause gas, such as legumes and dairy products. Stick to the medications your doctor recommends, often including pain relievers.

If period pain is persistent and unbearable, you should visit a doctor, and the causes of period pain, apart from IBS, are often summarized as follows:

Uterine fibroids. Narrow cervical opening. The position of the uterus is inverted (backward flexed). Poor mental state.

Doctors recommend not to carry heavy things during the menstrual cycle, because the bones and muscles of the body are at their weakest during this period, and pressure on them may exacerbate back pain and increase uterine contractions, as well as severe bleeding.

Some women have so much difficulty relieving the pain they feel during their period that they are forced to stay home and stop exercising and go to the gym.

But exercising during menstruation is one of the healthy habits recommended by doctors, as it helps improve mood, adjust hormone levels, and improve blood flow to pain sites in the body and soothe them.

Women drink stimulant drinks in large quantities during the menstrual cycle, to overcome the headache that strikes their heads during this period, but excessive caffeine causes narrowing of blood vessels, and a decrease in blood flow to the brain and uterus, which increases the feeling of pain in them.

Smoking worsens PMS symptoms because the deposition of chemicals in tobacco within the arteries reduces blood flow to the endocrine glands responsible for secreting hormones, causing increased hormonal disturbances.

Women get vaginal infections during the menstrual cycle because menstrual blood makes the vagina a fertile environment for the growth of bacteria and microbes, and as it is cleaned with soap, the irritation increases, due to the chemicals in it.