Being nauseated during your period sounds like a nightmare. It is caused mainly by chemical and hormonal changes that occur during your monthly cycle. These changes are not mainly a cause of concern as they’re normal.
In some cases having nausea on your period may indicate an underlying issue. If that is the case, then feeling nauseous during this period is accompanied by fever and severe pain. If you wonder if it is normal to throw up on your period, then below are the reasons and how you can combat nausea before period.
Women suffer from nausea before period due to several reasons. It is essential to observe any symptoms that could be accompanying it. Here are the reasons why you may be suffering from nausea during your period.
Dysmenorrhea is the most common cause of PMS nausea. Primarily, these cramps are often caused due to increased uterine contractions as the uterus lining produces a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin.
Menstrual pain can be caused due to other medical conditions such as endometriosis. The areas affected by cramps include:
Menstrual cramps can also be uncomfortable enough to cause vomiting. High levels of prostaglandins also cause vomiting by entering your bloodstream.
Symptoms include:
Premenstrual Syndrome refers to emotional and physical symptoms that occur one to two weeks before periods. These continue when your period starts and usually go away after a few days.
Doctors believe hormonal changes in women can cause PMS. It involves dysmenorrhea, which causes vomiting due to increased prostaglandins and pain.
Physical symptoms of PMS include:
Emotional symptoms of PMS are:
PMS affects more than 90% of women; thus, it is extremely common. The type of symptoms and severity differs from woman to woman.
Menstruation and PMS are uncomfortable. If your PMS interferes with your daily life, it is time for you to visit a doctor.
Symptoms include:
Treatments for nausea range from home remedies to over-the-counter medicines.
Some home remedies help in relieving nausea during periods along with medical treatments. Most common remedies include:
Ginger helps in regulating your body’s prostaglandins levels and is an excellent traditional remedy for vomiting and cramps. Drink ginger tea or try ginger lozenges.
An excellent natural remedy is peppermint extract. It helps in easing nausea during periods by reducing the production of prostaglandins. Most people either drink peppermint tea or use peppermint aromatherapy.
Consuming bland foods until you feel better also helps in curbing nausea. We recommend following the BRAT diet and increasing the consumption of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
P6 or Nei Guan refers to the pressure point on your inner wrist. Applying pressure on this area can help reduce headaches, vomitting, and stomach upset.
Fennel is known for its inflammatory properties. It helps in easing pain and vomiting during menstruation. One may consume fennel as a capsule, tea, tincture, or on its own.
Good ol’ cinnamon consists of a compound called eugenol. This compound helps in suppressing prostaglandins. It also helps in reducing menstrual bleeding, pain, and ease nausea.
Deep breathing or meditation can help relax your muscles, thus relieving PMS nausea.
Any health care provider will prescribe treatment depending on the underlying cause of your nausea. Treatments can include the following types of medication.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most common treatment if you feel severe pain. They help in reducing the production of prostaglandins, thus relieving one of the cramps and PMS nausea.
NSAIDs are readily available on the counter and do not need a doctor’s prescription. Some commonly known include:
Another treatment for PMDD and PMS is SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors. SSRIs refer to antidepressants that increase your brain’s serotonin levels.
They mainly treat emotional symptoms and can cause nausea in some people. Thus, make sure that your doctor prescribes an SSRI with minimal side effects if you suffer from PMS nausea.
Birth Control Pills or Oral Contraceptives get designed to prevent pregnancy. These control the hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle. Oral Contraceptives also help in relieving you of nausea during periods and other emotional and physical symptoms.
Primarily, these are used to treat:
Your medical provider is most likely to prescribe you antibiotics if you suffer from Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. A medical expert will prescribe an antibiotic for your specific infection.
Make sure to finish your prescription, even if your symptoms go away. This helps in reducing the risk of any complications.
Although a person cannot always prevent PMS nausea, we can reduce the likelihood of it occurring.
Along with medications and at-home remedies, one can do the following to have a stress-free period.
Track your meals, snacks, and drinks that you may be consuming. This helps in analyzing any foods or beverages that could be triggering PMS nausea or nausea during periods.
PMS nausea can be reduced with the help of antidepressants such as SSRIs. A medical expert will prescribe Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as fluoxetine or sertraline. Some common names include Prozac and Zoloft.
Birth control pills get prescribed by doctors to regulate hormones. They are also known to help prevent PMS and nausea before periods.
Nausea is a normal part of our menstrual cycle. However, if at-home remedies do not prevent nausea or other concerning symptoms such as vomiting with blood or fever, one must consult their healthcare provider.
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