Diarrhoea during ovulation/menstruation

[GeorgeTheGiraffe]

Not sure which board to post this on so here I am!
Just wondering if any women out there have experienced diarrhoea during ovulation and/or menstruation since your periods returned after having a baby?

It's possible I currently have a bug but I'm noticing a pattern. My periods returned when my baby was about 7 months old and I've now had 3 cycles. In that time I've had diarrhoea and gripe-like stomach cramps at either ovulation or menstruation (one cycle it happened at both). Am on the verge of visiting gp as not had this problem before getting pregnant but just wondered if it's a common problem and if there is anything you do to help it. Thanks

[123rd]

I do get one or two episodes of very loose poos when I first start bleeding...I wouldn't say this is normal for everyone as I do have horrendous periods. I would say tho that it will take your body quite a while to settle again after having a child.

[ouryve]

It's something I've always had a problem with, but it's been much more severe since I became perimenopausal. Which is a bugger, since my libido only really wakes up when I ovulate, but I now dread ovulating because of the side effects and I'm relieved when ovulation doesn't happen in a particular month.

[EBearhug]

On the heavier days of my period, things are definitely looser. Always have been, since I was a teenager (now in my 40s.) I always assumed it was to do with the digestive system being next to all the bits which are cramping up, and it gets a bit confused and behaves crampily too.

[ouryve]

Don't know if you're breastfeeding, btw, but my symptoms came back big time at a point when DS2 really cut back on nursing.

Progesterone can trigger loose bowels, as can oestrogen and FSH surges.

[BikeRunSki]

I always have had, ever since I was a teenager. Having babies has made my periods much shorter, but still have the loose poos/diarhea.

[BestIsWest]

Me too, always.

[Deux]

I get something similar. I think I may have read that progesterone in the second half of the cycle causes mild constipation and the bowel can then loosen up once bleeding starts and progesterone drops.

[OnTheThursdayOfChristmas]

I always have loose poos and dodgy tums during my periods.
My periods are only just re establishing themselves after having DS 20mo ago but I'm noticing the same patterns and symptoms disputes now being on the pill.

[NK5BM3]

I have that also after having kids. My children are now 6 and 4.

My cycle is pretty spot on 28/30 days. About half way through the cycle since kids, I'd have massive cramps (once, it was so bad it felt like initial contractions and I ended up missing my train to London and had to take the next one - I was at home...). A big poo usually sorts it out.

Then the day of the period or day after, I'd be having the massive clear out. Glad to read I'm not the only one!!

[meglet]

Always suffered from a runny tummy on the first couple of days of my period. From starting my periods, after DC's and until I had a hysterectomy in my mid-30's.