What symptoms will my daughter experience during her periods?

Many girls and women notice a change in their bowel habits around the time of their period. This is caused by prostaglandins, which are hormones released by the uterus during a menstrual cycle. These prostaglandins can cause nausea, intestinal cramping, and diarrhea. These unpleasant symptoms can occur to such a degree that otherwise healthy women and girls find it necessary to stay home from work or school during “that time of the month.”

When my patients tell me they’re experiencing these problems, I recommend that they take ibuprofen or Naprosyn. These medications are known as antip rostaglandins. As such, they can alleviate the nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. Similarly, oral contraceptives can greatly reduce these symptoms because they, too, have an antiprostaglandin effect.