Nausea during your period can add fuel to the fire when you're already dealing with cramps, bloating, and fatigue. Many women find this symptom unexpected if they've never had it before. Let's explore why you might feel sick on your cycle, how to handle it, and when you need to see a doctor.
Why Does My Period Make Me Feel Sick?
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Hormonal Fluctuations
Your menstrual cycle causes big shifts in your hormone levels, oestrogen and progesterone. These changes can make you feel sick because they affect your digestion and make other symptoms worse.
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Prostaglandin Production
Your body makes chemicals called prostaglandins to help your uterus contract and shed its lining. When you have too many prostaglandins, it can cause bad cramps, which might make you feel sick or even throw up.
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Cramps And Pain
Bad period pain when it's intense, can start a chain reaction in your body. This can make you feel woozy, ill, and even likely to vomit.
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Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Your period can make your blood sugar go up and down. This has an impact on how you feel, often making you dizzy, tired, and sick to your stomach.
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Digestive System Impact
The changes in hormones can slow your digestion. This slowing down leads to feeling queasy and bloated.
Nausea During Period For The First Time: What Should You Know?
Feeling sick to your stomach on your period for the first time can freak you out. Your body changes as you grow so new symptoms pop up now and then. That's pretty normal. But if you're throwing up a lot or can't shake the queasiness, you might want to see a doctor. Sometimes, health issues like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease can make you feel nauseous when you're on your period.
Symptoms Of Nausea During Your Period
When you feel nauseous during your period, you might also notice:
- Dizziness And Lightheadedness: A drop in blood pressure or blood sugar can make you feel faint.
- Tiredness And Fatigue: Cramps, hormone shifts, and nausea together can drain your energy.
- Stomach Cramps: You might feel pain or discomfort in your stomach much like the cramps during your period.
- Vomiting: In bad cases, nausea can turn into vomiting, which might disrupt your daily life.
How To Stop Feeling Sick During Your Period
To deal with feeling sick during your period, you can try changing some habits and using natural remedies:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of water and clear liquids to help fight dehydration, which can make you feel more sick to your stomach.
- Eat Small, Frequent Meals: Instead of big meals, eat light healthy snacks throughout the day to keep your blood sugar steady.
- Ginger and Peppermint: Both ginger and peppermint have an effect on reducing nausea. Try ginger tea or peppermint tea to calm your stomach.
- Rest and Relaxation: Cutting down on stress and getting enough sleep can help your body deal better with period symptoms.
- Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Any Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) can ease cramps and lessen nausea.
- Essential Oils: Peppermint or ginger oil aromatherapy can also cut down on nausea.
Throwing Up While On Your Period: Could It Mean You're Pregnant?
Vomiting during your period might worry you, but it doesn’t always point to pregnancy. If you’re unsure, think about these things:
- Timing: You notice pregnancy symptoms after you miss your period. If your period comes on schedule, feeling sick to your stomach is linked to your cycle, not pregnancy.
- Other Signs: Early signs of pregnancy include missing periods, sore breasts, and feeling tired. If you feel sick and have these other signs too, taking a pregnancy test can help you know for sure.
When To See A Doctor
If your bouts of nausea become severe, don't go away, or come with other worrying signs like extreme tiredness, heavy bleeding, or pain that gets in the way of your daily activities, you should contact a healthcare provider. They might suggest tests to check for underlying issues such as endometriosis, fibroids, or other problems with your reproductive health.