Women who often experience bouts of diarrhea during their period can take steps to prepare for what is about to come.
Try an agent that will slow down diarrhea, such as loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), says Marrero. “If women can predict when it’s going to happen, they can start taking medication before symptoms start,” he says. If the diarrhea is only occasional or isn’t bothersome, you don’t have to do anything, since you know it will pass quickly.
Taking loperamide or another antidiarrheal can help soothe and prevent diarrhea. But make sure to check with your doctor before taking these medicines, as they can worsen certain conditions. If diarrhea is caused by a parasitic or bacterial infection, for example, antidiarrheal medication will prevent your body from ridding itself of the infection.
Dietary changes can also help. Bulking up on extra fiber found in foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes can help solidify loose stool and may reduce your diarrhea symptoms. Limit or avoid caffeine and junk foods, as both can cause diarrhea and worsen PMS symptoms. And since diarrhea can lead to dehydration, be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
But, Marrero cautions, if you experience significant pain or bloody stool, call your doctor right away, as the cause could be more serious than PMS symptoms or dysmenorrhea. Endometriosis, a chronic illness affecting the reproductive system, can (although rarely) have an effect on the bowels, causing bloody stool.
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