Why Do I Only Experience Painful Bowel Movements During My Period?
Painful bowel movements during your period are usually caused by chemical signals called prostaglandins, which can affect the bowel and lead to cramping or discomfort. However, severe or sharp pain during bowel movements may point to an underlying condition such as bowel endometriosis. This blog explains the possible causes of painful bowel movements during menstruation, symptoms of endometriosis, when to see a doctor, diagnosis, treatment, and its potential impact on fertility.
Why Does Pooping Hurt During My Period?
Your menstrual cycle has the power to impact you beyond your uterus. Menstruation, in fact, can cause changes in everyone as the body releases prostaglandins to contract the uterus and shed its lining.
High levels of prostaglandins can lead to pretty debilitating menstrual cramps and can also cause changes in your bowel movements.
Women may experience the following:
- Pain or discomfort in the abdomen or pelvic region
- Loose stool/ diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Increased urge to pass stool
- Pain while passing stool
While discomfort may be a common experience people have with their bowels when they're on their period, severe, repeated pain that interferes with daily activities should be evaluated by a physician.
How Does Endometriosis Cause Pain When You Poop?
Endometriosis causes pain during bowel movements, a symptom known as dyschezia, mainly because of inflammation, tissue growth, and muscle pulling near the rectum and lower pelvis. This pain may become more noticeable around menstruation and can occur along with other pelvic or bowel symptoms.
You may experience:
- Pain before or during menstruation
- Pain that worsens while passing stool
- Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
- Constipation or diarrhea around your period
- Pain that improves after menstruation
If painful bowel movements occur repeatedly, particularly around your menstrual cycle, it is important to discuss these symptoms with a gynecologist.
Other Causes of Painful Bowel Movements During Your Period
However, there are other possibilities. Some of these could be:
Menstrual Cramping
The presence of uterine contractions due to the presence of prostaglandins can lead to stomach cramps during the period.
Constipation
Hardened feces can cause pain when passing them out especially if you have constipation around your period.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a condition that causes stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and bloating. It is very similar to the symptoms that are experienced during periods and thus should be determined whether this is the reason.
Hemorrhoids or Anal Fissures
Pain upon passing stool due to hemorrhoids or tears at the anus can occur. This may manifest itself during periods when these symptoms occur.
Other Pelvic Conditions
Pelvic conditions like fibroids or adenomyosis may also cause painful periods and other pelvic symptoms.
What Other Symptoms May Suggest Endometriosis?
When painful bowel movements are accompanied by other signs and symptoms of endometriosis, such as:
- Severe period cramping
- Pelvic pain or lower abdominal pain
- Lower back pain
- Sexual intercourse pain
- Menstrual pain during urination
- Heavy menstrual flow
- Constipation or diarrhea before and during menstruation
- Bloating and nausea
- Difficulties conceiving
It is important to note that pain is not an indicator of how much endometriosis a woman has.
When Should You See a Doctor?
A visit to a gynecologist might be considered if painful bowel movements:
- Persist during your menstrual periods
- Are severe or worsening
- Inhibit you from working, sleeping or conducting other routine activities
- Coexist with severe menstrual pain
- Are accompanied by blood in the stool
- Coexist with painful sexual intercourse or urination
- Are combined with constipation or diarrhea
- Go hand-in-hand with infertility problems
Severe menstrual pain is not justifiable because there is no need for you to endure such discomfort. You can consult a specialist to understand the source of your symptoms.
How Is the Cause Diagnosed?
Your physician will first take a history of your menstrual periods, symptoms relating to the bowels, the nature of your pain, as well as any other pelvic symptoms that you might be experiencing. This may involve performing a pelvic examination, ultrasound scan, and/or MRI depending on your symptoms.
Should there be suspicion of endometriosis, the physician may use both your symptoms and imaging results to diagnose endometriosis. Laparoscopy may also be performed in certain cases to help diagnose and treat endometriosis.
Note down the time and duration of your pain, along with any associated symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and other menstrual symptoms.
Can Endometriosis Affect Fertility?
Endometriosis may have implications for fertility in some women. It causes inflammation and, in some instances, adhesions involving the pelvic organs and reproductive organs. Sometimes women are made aware of their endometriosis after undergoing a fertility workup.
Having endometriosis does not preclude you from conceiving. The fertility treatments are customized according to your personal factors including age, ovarian reserve, condition of fallopian tubes, sperm factors, endometriosis and fertility history.
This will be dependent on your situation; whether natural conception or other interventions like IUI and IVF may be recommended by your fertility expert.
Conclusion
Not all menstrual pain is created equal. For example, while typical menstrual changes might cause you to have painful bowel movements only during your period, severe pain or bowel pain that occurs with severe period pain, pelvic pain, and/or difficulty getting pregnant may not be typical and should be checked out.
There are many other possible causes of these symptoms, including constipation, IBS, and even problems with the anorectal region. For reproductive pain or problems with getting pregnant, seeing specialists can be the first step towards finding the cause and receiving the right treatment.
As the best fertility center in India, SCI IVF Hospital offers fertility evaluations and personalized treatment options for its clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does it feel like sharp knives rip through me when I poop?
There are several reasons. Changes in hormones, constipation, or conditions like endometriosis can cause painful pooping.
2. Can painful pooping LITERALLY rip my body in half during my period?
Oh, absolutely. Endometriosis can cause pain during pooping, among other fun things, like pelvic pain and severe cramping during your period.
3. How can I alleviate period poop pain?
Good hydration and a good diet with lots of fiber can improve bowel pain. Regular exercise and a heating pad will help too.
4. If I have endometriosis, do I have to live a life without children forever?
No. Many women who struggle with endometriosis are still able to conceive, but some women with endometriosis experience negative effects on their fertility.
