Disclaimer: In this post, I am sharing a few things that I do to help me have a bowel movement when I am on my period. I am not a doctor, and it is to be for informational use only and is not substitute for professional medical advice.
When you are on your period, sometimes it can be difficult to have a bowel movement because when you are on your period, your progesterone rises, which slows your digestive system. Constipation can happen to anyone on their period, but it can be even more problematic for disabled people who have bowels that don’t work properly. I have always struggled to go to the bathroom, even when I am not on my period, because those muscles don’t work, and if you add endometriosis on top of that, it’s an even bigger challenge. Bowel movements are always hard because of my disability, and I wish I could get away with not having one on my period, but unfortunately, my periods are a full seven days, and not going to the bathroom for that long will cause even bigger constipation issues that could potentially need medical attention. How do I have a bowel movement when I am on my period? In this post, I am going to talk about what I do to have a bowel movement while I am on my period.
Track my period- When you have endometriosis, it can be difficult to track your period and get an accurate date of when to expect your next period because people with endometriosis often have irregular cycles, and it can be very difficult to plan your period. It still can be helpful to track your period because it’s easier to plan ahead when you know when to expect one. I have a Fitbit, and on the app, there is a period tracker that I use to log every single one of my periods, which gives me predictions of when to expect my next one. My predictions are often incorrect and can be off by a few days or even a week, but it is still helpful to have some idea of when to expect a period. I get more severe period cramps than the average woman and have to anticipate not getting anything done during that week.
Do my bowel regimen as soon as I get it- When you have Spina Bifida, bowel movements are always hard, but it’s even more difficult on your period because sometimes it puts pressure on your bowels, which makes it almost impossible to go to the bathroom. I try to have a bowel movement the day before I get my period or as soon as I notice I have one, because I know if I wait too long, I won’t be able to have one. Bowel movements are not always avoidable when you are on your period, but it’s always better to have a bowel movement sooner rather than later, because if you wait until the heaviest day of your period, it’s going to be more difficult. I still struggle with constipation when I am proactive and do my bowel regimen a day before, because things start to slow down before I get a period, but it is a little easier. I am not able to have as good of a bowel movement as I would if I weren’t on my period, and there is nothing you can do to completely prevent period constipation, but even if it’s not as much as you would have hoped for, something is always better than nothing.
Drink some coffee or matcha– I love coffee and would never in a million years give it up unless I developed a medical condition and had to quit. Coffee helps wake you up, but it can also help stimulate your bowels and help you go to the bathroom. When I am on my period, I drink an extra cup of coffee, and some people may think it’s to alleviate cramps, but caffeine doesn’t actually help my cramps, and it’s mostly to help me go to the bathroom. Matcha can be another great option if you don’t like coffee because it is loaded with antioxidants and there is tons of fiber. If I am not on my period, I drink a cup of matcha green tea in the afternoon instead of coffee because there is less caffeine, but I will not be giving up my caffeine intake any time soon, because sometimes caffeine is the only reason I am able to go to the bathroom. Caffeine isn’t just for an energy boost, and it can also help keep you regular and prevent constipation.
Take an extra laxative– I take the same laxatives every single time I need to have a bowel movement because it works, and that does not change when I am on my period. I use the same laxatives when I am on my period and when I am not, but when I have a period, sometimes, I will use more laxatives than I normally would. I might add an extra scoop of MiraLAX in my bowel bag because sometimes your body needs a little more help to be able to have some kind of bowel movement that isn’t that great. Sometimes I have had to double my laxative intake because if I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be able to go to the bathroom.
Eat a well-balanced diet– When you are on your period, it is common to have more sugar cravings, and there is nothing wrong with honoring your cravings and eating a piece of chocolate. It is still important to eat a well-balanced diet when you are on your period because the foods you eat can either help improve your digestion or make it worse. It is normal to have cravings during your period, but don’t use that as an excuse to eat horribly because it will only make your constipation worse. Your body needs more calories when you are on your period, and it is okay to honor your cravings, but you shouldn’t use that as an excuse to eat more ice cream because sugar causes inflammation, which can cause more pain. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet during your period is so important because it will help lessen your period cramps.
Try and do a little exercise– When I am on my period, it can be a little difficult to exercise because I have more extreme period pain that most women do not experience. If you have period pain that is manageable, it can be helpful to do a little exercise because exercise does something to your bowels that helps you go to the bathroom. It can be helpful to do a workout video an hour before you do your bowel regimen because sometimes that is all it takes. Movement can help prevent constipation, and sometimes you get constipated because you aren’t moving enough. If you have severe pain and are not able to exercise on your period, that is okay because it’s important to listen to your body. Every woman experiences different levels of pain, and only you know if exercise during that time of the month is safe.
Bowel movements are hard when you are on your period, but it is important that you still find a way to have them because severe constipation is painful and is something you want to avoid. Some people do not struggle with going to the bathroom on their period, but it is normal to have more bowel urgency than usual. I struggle with constipation when I am on my period, but because my bowel regimen doesn’t work as well as it normally would if I wasn’t on my period, it is common for me to have a random accident that is completely out of my control which is why I don’t like to go out on my period Bowel movements are important to have when you are on your period and if you are not able to have one during that time of the month, you should talk to a doctor about that because relief is possible. How do you have a bowel movement when you are on your period? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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