--- title: Which stomach and digestive symptoms occur around the time of menstruation? description: Most healthy women get stomach symptoms before or during their period, especially stomach pain and diarrhea. Women who have mood symptoms like depression or a url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/gastrointestinal-symptoms-before-and-during-menses-in-healthy-women-2014/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Which stomach and digestive symptoms occur around the time of menstruation? Survey study, 2014 # Which stomach and digestive symptoms occur around the time of menstruation? Most healthy women get stomach symptoms before or during their period, especially stomach pain and diarrhea. Women who have mood symptoms like depression or anxiety are more likely to have multiple stomach symptoms. Early or limited evidence 156 healthy women without gastrointestinal or psychiatric disease ## What they did A cross-sectional survey of 156 healthy women at a gynecology clinic. They filled out a questionnaire about stomach symptoms, mood symptoms, and their menstrual histories during the five days before their period and during their period. ## What they found Of 156 women, 73% experienced at least one stomach symptom before or during their period. Stomach pain affected 58% in the 5 days before menses and 55% during menses. Diarrhea affected 24% before and 28% during. Fatigue was very common, affecting 53% before and 49% during. Women with depression were more likely to report multiple stomach symptoms both before menses (p=0.006) and during (p<0.001). Women with anxiety also showed this pattern (p=0.014 before, p=0.008 during). Fatigue was significantly associated with multiple stomach symptoms before (p<0.001) and during menses (p=0.01). ## What it means for you Stomach and digestive problems around your period are very common and linked to mood and fatigue. This suggests that brain, gut, and hormonal pathways may be connected. The study only included healthy women without existing stomach or psychiatric problems, so the results may not apply to women with those conditions. 73% experienced gastrointestinal symptoms 58% had stomach pain before menses 156 women studied ## About the study Original title Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women Authors Bernstein MT, Graff LA, Avery L et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2014 Study design Survey study Participants 156 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-14-14](https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-14-14) Original abstract Background: Little is known as to the extent gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are reported by women around menses. We aimed to describe GI symptoms that occurred premenstrually and during menses in healthy women, and to specifically assess the relationship of emotional symptoms to GI symptoms around menses. Methods: We recruited healthy, premenopausal adult women with no indication of GI, gynecologic, or psychiatric disease who were attending an outpatient gynecology clinic for well-woman care. They completed a survey that queried menstrual histories and the presence of GI and emotional symptoms. We compared the prevalence of primary GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting), as well as pelvic pain and bloating, in the 5 days preceding menses and during menses, and assessed whether emotional symptoms or other factors were associated with the occurrence of GI symptoms. Results: Of 156 respondents, 73% experienced at least one of the primary GI symptoms either pre- or during menses, with abdominal pain (58% pre; 55% during) and diarrhea (24% pre; 28% during) being the most common. Those experiencing any emotional symptoms versus those without were more likely to report multiple (2 or more) primary GI symptoms, both premenstrually (depressed p = 0.006; anxiety p = 0.014) and during menses (depressed p < 0.001; anxiety p = 0.008). Fatigue was also very common (53% pre; 49% during), and was significantly associated with multiple GI symptoms in both menstrual cycle phases (pre p < 0.001; during p = 0.01). Conclusions: Emotional symptoms occurring in conjunction with GI symptoms are common perimenstrually, and as such may reflect shared underlying processes that intersect brain, gut, and hormonal pathways. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[IBS and gut symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ibs-gi/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2025 Can a plant-based supplement reduce PMS symptoms? 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