Pooping more while on your period is normal. There’s nothing wrong with you.
The short answer is: hormones. Specifically, a group of chemicals called prostaglandins, which are released in higher amounts around your period and affect the muscles in your gut, as well as your uterus.
What prostaglandins are and what they do
Prostaglandins are a group of lipids with hormone-like compounds your body produces to help your uterus contract and shed its lining during your period. It's how your body clears out the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) each month. They don't just target the uterus, they can also reach the smooth muscle in your intestines, causing it to contract more than usual.
Why the gut is especially sensitive to them
The uterus and intestines sit close together and share some of the same nerve pathways, so when prostaglandin levels spike, your bowel tends to feel it too. That’s the same mechanism behind period cramps, going beyond the womb, reaching the intestines.
Why some people get looser stools and others get constipated
Interestingly, the luteal phase (a week before your period) inhibits higher progesterone which can lead to many people experiencing the opposite problem - constipation and bloating. Progesterone relaxes the muscles in your digestive system, so food moves through your gut more slowly. It’s entirely normal to feel constipated in the run-up to your period, then find things move a lot faster once it arrives.
Tips to manage period-related bathroom changes
A few small things can make this time of the month a bit more comfortable:
-
Stay hydrated, especially if you're losing fluid through diarrhoea
-
Ease off high-fibre or very rich foods before your period if you know you're prone to symptoms, then reintroduce gradually
-
Magnesium can help relax muscle tension, both in the gut and the uterus
-
Gentle movement, like walking or stretching, can help keep digestion moving steadily rather than sporadically
-
Heat on your lower abdomen can ease cramping in both the uterus and the gut, since they share similar muscle contractions
Is it normal, or is it something else?
It's worth speaking to a GP if digestive changes are severe, last well beyond your period, come with intense pain, or if you notice blood in your stool that isn't explained by your period.
Digestive symptoms alongside period pain can occasionally be linked to conditions like endometriosis, so persistent or worsening symptoms are always worth getting checked out rather than just managing quietly. For more information on endometriosis, visit the Endometriosis UK website.
If bloating in the lead-up to your period is something you deal with regularly, our guide on What Is PMS and How Can I Manage It? covers this in more depth, along with some simple ways to ease it.
