I get diarrhoea during my periods

Dear Doctor,
I get a running stomach whenever I am in my periods. What can I do or take?
Christine

Dear Christine,
SOME women go through menstruation every month without any disruption, yet a huge percentage experience complications.

These include headache, cramps, hot flushes, irritability, nausea and stomach upset because of hormonal changes.
Although the reason for diarrhoea during menstruation is unclear, it has been suggested that increased levels of the progesterone hormone, which is produced at this time, causes changes in the way the muscles in the gut wall contract.

If the diarrhoea comes a result of the high hormone levels, then it clears at the end of the period.

I also advise you to take a lot of water and take anti-diarrhoea medication, should it persist.