What's going on with vomiting and diarrhea during dysmenorrhea?

Dysmenorrhea accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea may be caused by excessive secretion of prostaglandins, gastrointestinal dysfunction, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, primary dysmenorrhea, etc. It can be relieved by hot compresses on the abdomen, electrolyte supplementation, drug treatment, traditional Chinese medicine conditioning, surgical treatment, etc. It is recommended to seek medical treatment promptly to determine the cause.

1. Excessive secretion of prostaglandins

When the endometrium is shed during menstruation, a large amount of prostaglandins are released, which stimulates uterine contractions and causes pain. At the same time, it may act on gastrointestinal smooth muscles and cause spasm. It manifests as lower abdominal cramping accompanied by nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. You can use prostaglandin synthase inhibitors such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules and diclofenac sodium suppositories as directed by your doctor, or use belladonna tablets to relieve gastrointestinal spasms.

2. Gastrointestinal dysfunction

Hormonal changes during menstruation may affect autonomic nervous function and lead to abnormal gastrointestinal motility. Postprandial bloating, hyperactive bowel sounds, and, in severe cases, watery diarrhea are common. It is recommended to eat small meals frequently and avoid cold and raw foods. If necessary, take montmorillonite powder to stop diarrhea or oral rehydration salts to prevent dehydration.

3. Endometriosis

When ectopic endometrium invades the intestine or pelvic nerves, it may cause periodic rectal irritation symptoms. Typical symptoms include rectal distension and tenesmus during menstruation, which may be accompanied by brown bloody stools. The diagnosis needs to be confirmed through laparoscopy, and norethindrone tablets, dienogest tablets and other drugs can be used as directed by the doctor to inhibit intimal growth.

4. Pelvic inflammatory disease

Chronic pelvic inflammation may have an acute attack during menstruation, with inflammatory exudates irritating the peritoneum or adhesions pulling the intestines. In addition to severe abdominal pain, fever and mucous stools may occur. Gynecological examination and secretion culture are required. Commonly used drugs include cefixime dispersible tablets, metronidazole vaginal gel, etc.

5. Primary dysmenorrhea

It is more common in young women and is related to uterine hyperflexion or cervical canal stenosis. Pain often lasts from 1-2 days before menstruation to the second day of menstruation. Vomiting and diarrhea are mostly stress reactions caused by pain. You can try lying on your side with your knees bent for relief, and in severe cases, use ketoprofen enteric-coated capsules for analgesia.

During menstruation, you need to keep your abdomen warm, drink brown sugar ginger tea or hot lemon water every day, and avoid caffeine and high-fat diet. Record the pain level and accompanying symptoms. If persistent vomiting, bloody stools or syncope occur, seek emergency treatment immediately. It is recommended to perform gynecological ultrasound examination every year. After excluding organic lesions, symptoms can be improved through low-frequency electrical stimulation or biofeedback treatment.