As your period approaches, it's like everything that's normal with your body goes out the window. Some women see a dip in their energy level while others suffer from mood swings, but one of the most common PMS symptoms include a change in digestion. If you tend to poop more during your period [1] or experience constipation leading up to your menstruation cycle, you're not alone!
Ovulation and menstruation are made possible by certain hormonal and chemical changes, which is why we experience some of these symptoms [2] as a result. A hormone called progesterone, which increases immediately after ovulation and slowly decreases until triggering menstruation, is one of the main culprits of bloating, gas, and constipation.
On the other hand, chemicals called prostaglandins are responsible for making the uterus and digestive tract contract, which can trigger more frequent bowel movements. They can also be the reason why your poops may look abnormal.
What you can do, however, is change how you eat around your period to keep bloating and digestion in check. Or at the very least, prevent your symptoms from worsening. Try adding more fibre [4] into your diet to aid digestion, upping your water intake, and ditching foods that you most crave during this time of the month. Yep, that means limiting any fried, fatty, sugary, and salty foods.
Otherwise, don't worry about your pre-menstrual constipation. This too shall pass — literally!