Is It Normal To Poop More On My Period?

Fine, it’s not technically a medical term, but it’s what many humans refer to as the extra pooping (or lack thereof) during the most tumultuous time of our cycle: our period. Believe it or not, this doo doo dilemma affects 73% of women during that special time of the month. 

We all need a little extra comfort when we’re on the rag so why not grab one of our uterus plushies? Give her a hug or two and maybe yours will relax a bit. 

Now, we hear you: “Stop explaining my problem to me and tell me why my uterus AND bowels are attacking me at the same time!” We got you! The primary reason you get a case of the “period poops” can be attributed to the fella we call prostaglandin. 

This hormone is like the accelerator telling your body to squeeze. Your uterine lining has to shed somehow and the squeezing helps to loosen that old, bloody tissue right out of its home in your uterus.

You know what else squeezes with all of that extra “accelerator” floating around? Your bowels. Yep, that prostaglandin doesn’t have a fast track to your uterus - so it visits other organs along the way and gives them a few extra squishes, too. 

Exsqueeze us for a second. Did you know that you can be the proud owner of a beautiful big intestine enamel pin? Use it as a reminder that although your period can be hellish, it's not all bad; your organs are doing their best.

As lovely as extra poop on your period sounds, some people have the complete opposite dilemma. There’s another side to this spectrum of poop-related period issues. Some people find themselves constipated and unable to poop very much if at all during their period! We just can’t win.

Can you take a crack at what the culprit is? You guessed it, another hormone! This time it’s our pal progesterone (the hormone whose levels greatly increase during pregnancy) that stops your bowels in its tracks. Progesterone slows the digestive system entirely, causing stuff to get a little more backed up than usual.

For days when your colon needs a little extra love, hang on to one of our adorable plushies for support during those tough times.

As with much of human anatomy and bodily functions, there is a broad spectrum of period poop symptoms that affect people differently, and it’s usually nothing to be alarmed about. 

Nonetheless, no one likes to have their bowels squeezing at an alarmingly fast or slow rate, making us feel bloated and clogged up like a pipeline that hasn’t been flushed out in years. Too much detail? Perhaps. In any case, eating healthy, vitamin-rich food while staying hydrated is always a good answer. If you can exercise when you’re feeling stopped up that’ll help move things along, too. 

Love it or hate it, periods are a magical bodily process. Grab a Menstrual Cycle t-shirt or a Pooping Rainbows t-shirt that shows the whole world how proud of your uterus you are and that monthly hormonal war that wages inside you.

           

A uterus-owner’s menses is never a simple time or one with a lack of less-than-desirable side effects, but it’s something that does seem a little more normal when we realize how many women deal with the same thing. If something seems a little suspicious during your period, it’s always a good idea to talk to your friendly healthcare pro and get their opinion before things can get any crappier (sorry, we had to.)

She’s not happy about the bleeding, either! Show how much you love your vagina with this vagina & vulva keychain!