Constipation into Chaos

Here’s what’s really going on inside your body:

Before Your Period: Progesterone Slows Everything Down

The week before your period, progesterone is high. Progesterone is basically the chill, slow-it-all-down hormone. It relaxes the muscles in your intestines, which causes digestion to slow down.

For people with endo, this slowdown hits harder because your pelvis is already inflamed or sensitive — which means:

• constipation

• gas

• bloating

• that “full but stuck” feeling

During Your Period: Prostaglandins Hit the Gas Pedal

When bleeding starts, prostaglandins surge. These chemicals make your uterus contract, but they also affect your bowel.

For tons of endo patients, this means:

• diarrhea

• loose stools

• urgency

• cramping

It’s basically your body hitting a flush everything out now button.

Inflammation Shifts as Your Hormones Change

Right before your period, inflammation builds up → making everything slow and swollen. Once your period starts, inflammation shifts → stimulating bowel movement instead.

The switch from one stage to the other can feel dramatic.

Pelvic Floor Muscles React Too

Chronic pelvic pain often tightens the pelvic floor, which makes constipation worse. Once your period starts and everything relaxes a bit, plus prostaglandins firing off… the bowels speed up quickly.

Bowel Endometriosis or Adhesions Amplify the Cycle

If your bowel is affected by endo or scar tissue:

• constipation can feel more severe

• diarrhea can hit harder

• the swing between the two is more intense

But even without bowel endo, many people still experience these shifts.

Constipation before your period → diarrhea once bleeding starts is extremely common with endometriosis.

It’s caused by a mix of:

• hormone swings

• prostaglandins

• inflammation

• pelvic floor tension

• bowel sensitivity