4. Gastro upsets
Many women have diarrhea, gas, or constipation during their periods. Prostaglandins, the chemicals that cause cramping in your uterus, do the same in your bowels. “For lots of women, it’s common to have a loose stool or diarrhea on the day they have a lot of bleeding,” says Leslie Miller, MD, University of Washington–Seattle clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology.
The fixes
Fiber can help keep GI issues under control. Aim for 30 grams a day from cereal, fruit with the skin, and vegetables. But don’t add fiber to your diet too fast when you get your period; that could worsen diarrhea. For constipation, check your habits. Dr. Miller says women often hold in bowel movements because they’re in public places. Before you know it, you are bloated and constipated. “When you get the urge, go,” Dr. Miller advises.
Ibuprofen and other similar anti-inflammatory medicines may reduce gastro cramping. To avoid tummy irritation, take it with food.
5. All of the above
Some women experience a combo of excessive bleeding, cramping, breast tenderness, headaches, PMS, and other troubles. What to do?
The fix
Stop treating the individual symptoms. Dr. Miller recommends continuous birth control pills—you just skip the placebo week and move on to your next pack. If your insurer won’t pay for that, ask about Lybrel and the other Pill options. Also, consider NovaSure if childbearing isn’t in your future.
Is it safe to ditch your period?
It looks as if the answer is yes. Studies on long-term use of the new 365-day birth control pill are still ongoing, but women have been taking the traditional Pill without interruption (skipping the seven placebo pills and starting a new package) for some time. And there is no sign of increased health risks, says University of Washington–Seattle's Dr. Miller. The bigger risk may be typical Pill use: Women who are supposed to take a week of placebos often don’t take any and then forget to restart a fresh pack, boosting their odds of pregnancy. Still, ditching the monthly cycle isn’t right for everyone, so ask your doc.
