Diagnosing Period Gas Pain
Anyone can develop abdominal pain from gas. Women can develop more gas during their period because of the hormonal changes and a tendency to eat gas-causing foods they might not usually eat to help them cope with the pain.
If your period gas pain is bad enough for you to see your doctor, they will inquire about your medical history and ask if it is normal for you to have gas pains during your period. They may conduct a physical examination of the abdominal area to locate where the gas is built up.
If necessary, the doctor may order some tests to find out why gas might be building up. Tests can include:
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Upper gastrointestinal series
The doctor uses X-rays to look for signs of any blockages or other abnormalities that might be causing you to have gas pain.
Doctors perform a colonoscopy to look for signs of cancer, narrowing, polyps, tumors, or obstructions.
A sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that uses a light and a camera that is inserted through the anus to look at the lower colon area for inflammation, obstructions, sores, or anything else that is out of the ordinary.
Doctors use an upper GI series test to check your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum functions, which could cause digestive problems like excess gas.
Could Endometriosis Be Causing Your Abdominal Pain
most commonly reported menstrual disordermedical professionalWhat is endometriosis? What are the symptoms?
- Period pain: Although many women experience cramping during their periods, those with endometriosis describe their level of abdominal pain as being far worse than usual. The pain can begin before menstruation starts and extend several days into the period. Lower back pain is not uncommon. The Mayo Clinic advises women to contact their healthcare provider if severe pain and cramping lasts longer than two-to-three days.
- Spotting: Light vaginal bleeding prior to or between periods.
- Pain with intercourse: Pain during or after sexual intercourse is common for those with endometriosis.
- Pain with bowel movements or urination: These symptoms are more likely to occur during a womans period.
- Excessive bleeding: Endometriosis can cause occasional heavy periods or bleeding between periods in some women.
- Infertility: Endometriosis is often first diagnosed in women who are seeking treatment for infertility.
- Additional symptoms: Other symptoms women with endometriosis can experience include bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea, especially during menstruation.
Pain In The Stomach After Eating While On Your Period
At some point, people experience abdominal pain after eating 1. This pain can be linked to many minor and major health problems. During the menstrual cycle, women may experience abdominal pain as part of premenstrual syndrome or due to many other conditions that can occur during menses 1.
At some point, people experience abdominal pain after eating 1. This pain can be linked to many minor and major health problems. During the menstrual cycle, women may experience abdominal pain as part of premenstrual syndrome or due to many other conditions that can occur during menses 1. Severe pain should never go overlooked even if it is experienced after eating a meal.
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What Causes Stomach Pain During My Menstrual Cycle
Abdominal pain during the menstrual cycle can have more than one cause. In a normal menstrual cycle a chemical prostiglandin is released in higher levels. This causes contractions of the smooth muscle of the uterine wall and assists in the sloughing to the lining which then becomes the menstrual flow. The prostiglandins can also affect smooth muscle in other parts of the body, including the intestines. The contractions of the intestines are sometimes felt as painful.
Another source of abdominal pain during menses is the brain misinterpreting the source of the pain. The sensory nerves of the abdomen are not highly organized. Pain messages from the uterine cramps that occur during menses may “read” as pain in the abdomen by the brain.
Finally, an abnormal source of abdominal pain during menses may occur if endometriosis is present. Endometrial implants on the intestines grow and then bleed with menstrual flow. The presence of active bleeding in this tissue causes irritation and pain.
What Can I Do For Cramps
If cramps bother you, you can:
- Take a pain reliever. Talk to your mom or dad or your doctor about which medicine is best for you. They can help you figure out how much to take and how often.
- Exercise! Being physically active can ease cramps, probably because exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the body that make you feel good.
- Get warm. Try placing a warm water bottle, warm heating pad, or warm compress on your belly or take a warm bath.
If these tips dont help, talk to your parent or your doctor about other treatments.
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Pregnancy Cramps Vs Period Cramps
Pregnancy cramps usually happen when the pregnancy first takes place. These cramps are caused by the body adapting and changing to prepare for birth as well as to accommodate the baby growing inside of you. Women may get alarmed and fear that the baby is in danger, but you shouldnt be worried. Mild cramping during this time is very normal. Its also a little different from menstrual cramps. Theyre usually:
- More mild
- Lower than normal
- Cramping on both sides
However, most women say that the cramping is similar to their normal menstrual cramps. It is only very few women that feel sharp twinges of pain in their lower abdomen that can last months after pregnancy occurs. This is absolutely normal thoughthe uterus and muscles inside of your body are just stretching to accommodate the baby.
The only time that cramps during pregnancy can be cause for concern are when:
- Cramping is very severe and painful
- Cramping is consistent and doesnt go away
- Blood is present
You should not have any cramping and bleeding seen together when youre pregnant. Any vaginal bleeding at this time should result in an immediate visit to your doctor.
How Do I Know If My Cramps Are Severe
Menstrual cramps feel like a throbbing or cramping pain in your lower abdomen. You may also feel pressure or a continuous dull ache in the area. The pain may radiate to your lower back and inner thighs.
Cramps usually begin a day or two before your period, peaking around 24 hours after your period starts. They typically last for two to three days.
Menstrual cramps can be accompanied by other symptoms, including:
- spotting between periods
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Can Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Cause Menstrual Cramps
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive tract that is most commonly caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections. Left untreated, PID can cause inflammation, scarring, painful menstrual cramps, and infertility.
most often occurs because sexually transmitted infections that cause PID can create scar tissue and adhesions in the pelvic region. During menstruation, hormones influence the uterus and surrounding structures including the scar tissue and adhesions which can increase inflammation, bleeding, and pain,” says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a board-certified family medicine and integrative physician in Washington, DC, and a columnist for Everyday Health. If caught early, PID can be treated with antibiotics, but antibiotics wont undo any structural damage caused by the infection. Practice safe sex, and get tested frequently for any sexually transmitted infections, especially if you have severe period pain, Dr. Agarwal advises.
Care Advice For Menstrual Cramps
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Issue #: Your Stomach Aches
What?: Above and beyond the usual uterine cramping, you also have some stomach cramping.
Whyyy?: Stomach cramps during your period can be traced back to prostaglandins , who are causing your bowels to forcefully contract. However, sometimes, nausea and stomach aches during your period can be a sign of endometriosis, a medical disorder where your uterine lining tissue grows outside of the uterus.
Can You Make It Stop?: If your period-related stomach aches are regular, and accompanied by terrible menstrual cramps and other symptoms like pain during sex or pain while you poop, talk to your doctor about endometriosis. There are treatments available for the disorder, so you definitely don’t have to live your life in constant poopy period pain.
What Is Gas Pain During Your Period
Hormones wreak havoc on a womans system during menses. Progesterone is a hormone that slows down your digestive system, especially during the latter half of your period. Many women begin to bloat a few days before their period even begins.
During this already painful time, gas can build up in your digestive tract and cause you to hurt even more. This is incredibly common: nearly 55% of women report gastrointestinal pain during their period.
There isnt much you can to control the hormonal turmoil within your body, but there are several steps you can take to reduce the extra pain that is caused by gas.
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Why Period Hormones Impact Your Stomach
Estrogen and progesterone are the two hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, while prostaglandins are a lipid, or fat, compound that actually act like a hormone in the body, said Davis. Like estrogen and progesterone, your level of prostaglandins also fluctuate during your period. She explained there are different types of prostaglandins in the body, and one is specific to the female reproductive system. The amount of reproductive prostaglandins is what fluctuates during your period.
While its not known exactly why the GI tract is sensitive to hormonal changes throughout a womans cycle, it is known that there are sex hormone receptors located along the GI tract, said Davis. So, the presence of sex hormone receptors in the GI tract is the reason why experts think women experience digestive issues during their period. Receptors interact with the hormones, and regulate certain physical responses to the hormones. Davis explained, Progesterone is well known for causing constipation during pregnancy by slowing the motility, or the contraction of muscles, of the GI tract. On the other hand, estrogen tends to enhance GI motility, and can be to blame for diarrhea.
What Should I Do If I Have Pain In My Left Abdomen
Bowel rest: Your doctor may suggest a liquid diet. This will allow your intestines and digestive system to recover from the obstructive or infectious causes of your left lower abdominal pain. Anti-inflammatory medications: If your symptoms are due to inflammatory conditions, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or steroid creams.
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Learn The Difference Between Painful Periods Endometriosis And Ibs
If you have pain in your pelvic area, it may be difficult to know whats causing your discomfort. Maybe you feel nauseous or constipated, or have diarrhea. You may have mild to severe cramping during your period. Or perhaps you have pain during intercourse or during a bowel movement. These symptoms can range from inconvenient to incapacitating, and the causes can vary as well.
Uterine Fibroids: A Monthly Period Nightmare For Some
As many as three out of four women will develop uterine fibroids, but most will not experience any symptoms. Fibroids range in size from microscopic to large enough to distort the shape of the uterus.
Uterine fibroids can turn monthly menses into a monthly nightmare by increasing not only the amount of bleeding, but the severity of period pain, says Lauren Streicher, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, and the author of Love Sex Again. The reason behind the pain is that the uterus during the period must contract to expel the large blood clots that often result from heavy bleeding,” says Dr. Streicher. Fortunately, fibroids do not put women at increased risk of uterine cancer and very rarely become cancerous.
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Cramps After Your Period
can continue up to two weeks even after the bleeding has stopped. They definitely arent fun, but they also arent a reason for concern.
Uterine Incapacity: A womans uterus is meant to expel all of the blood from a period by the time a womans period ends, but that doesnt always happen. When theres some blood left in there that needs to be expelled, we feel more cramps and in result, some spotting.
Hormonal Imbalance: When our hormones are off balance, our bodies change at a rapid pace. One of the signs of a hormonal imbalance is cramping.
Many women become concerned that they are pregnant if they have cramps at the end of a period or cramping a week after. However, this is a very, very rare occurrence. Immediately after a period, a woman does not ovulate under normal conditions so her body will not physically be able to get pregnant yet.
If youve started menstruating within the past few years and have menstrual cramps, chances are your menstrual pain isnt a cause for concern. However, if menstrual cramps disrupt your life every month, if your symptoms progressively worsen, or if youre older than 25 and just started having severe menstrual cramps, see your doctor. They could be due to a medical problem such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease.
What I Can Do To Relieve Pms
Many of the things that help ease cramps can also help with PMS. Here are some different ways to relieve PMS symptoms:
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Take over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen , naproxen , or acetaminophen . Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk with your doctor before taking pain medication if you have an allergy to aspirin or severe asthma.
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Do aerobic exercise, like walking, running, riding a bike, swimming, or any activity that gets your heart rate up. Regular exercise is ideal.
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Do breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga.
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Get plenty of rest. Sleeping regularly every night can help with stress, mood changes, and feeling tired or fatigued.
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Eat healthy foods like fruits, veggies , whole grains, and yogurt.
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Limit fat, salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
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Make sure you get enough vitamins in your diet, or take vitamin supplements. If you dont get enough calcium, take a supplement of 1200 mg of calcium daily. Magnesium and Vitamin E might also help.
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Use hormonal birth control . Your doctor can help you find a birth control method that can help with PMS.
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How To Treat Menstruation Cramps Before Period
For typical period cramps and PMS cramps, a safe remedy is an over-the-counter painkiller. This can help dull the pain or make it go away entirely. Many women also find that a warm heating pad or hot bath helps to relax the muscles. Some research has also found cramping can be linked to certain nutritional deficiencies. Make sure you get plenty of water and magnesium in the days leading up to your period.
If you are getting cramps outside of your normal period and PMS, the best gynecological treatment will be identifying the underlying cause of the issue. There are all sorts of diagnostic tests available for abnormal menstrual cramps. You can start by taking a pregnancy test at home to see whether the cramps are caused by pregnancy. To identify problems like a UTI, your doctor may need to test the area for bacteria. Cysts can be seen with imaging tests like an ultrasound or an MRI. Issues like endometriosis may need exploratory surgery to diagnose.
Once your doctor helps you figure out what is wrong, you can move on to treating it. For infections, a round of antibiotics could resolve the cramping for good. Hormonal contraceptives can help with many of the symptoms associated with ovarian cysts and endometriosis. However, some women may need surgery to completely solve the problem.
How Is Dysmenorrhea Diagnosed
Most of the time, women do not need to see the doctor for menstrual cramps. This may be different if you have severe, lasting pain or pain that is new or different. In these cases, your doctor may want to do a physical exam, pelvic exam, or tests. These can help diagnose or rule out the cause of your pain. An ultrasound test lets your doctor see if you have ovarian cysts. A laparoscopy can check for endometriosis. In this minor surgery, the doctor makes a small cut in your low stomach. Then, they insert a thin tube to look inside your uterus.
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