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Females, do you think your period worsens or causes a flare up?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/15/2012 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
After having more than five flares the only connections i have been able to make is that the flares start right as my period finishes. I am really starting to believe that the surge in hormones causes the flare up. I havent done much research but it makes sense to me that while on your period your immune system will harder or cause an imbalance therefore starting up a flare. I know everyone is different but id love to hear some theories or experiences.

I am thinking about starting birth control but am reluctant because Im on prednisone and feel crapty to begin with. Anyone use birth control? Do you notice a difference?
Posted 10/15/2012 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am on birth control and one important thing to consider is that we have a higher rate of DVT because of UC and estrogen further increases the risk. At the same time, I do feel like my UC symptoms can get worse around my period. I don't think it has ever been the cause of a flare up but it can cause me flare-like symptoms. My GI said it's not uncommon to suffer from softer stools around that time and not to be alarmed.
Posted 10/15/2012 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Some months are worse for me than others. For me it usually happens before my period or within the first day or two. Just one day of yucky stool but it never causes me to flare or continue beyond that one day. And some months I even get the period migraine from hell.
Posted 10/15/2012 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Some feel better on BC pills and some feel worse, some have no effect (everything seems to be trial and error when it comes to IBD)...hormones are definitely linked with IBD, it's quite common for women to experiance extra issues just before/during/after their periods and for some using BC pills as well.
Posted 10/16/2012 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've honestly never noticed one way or another, and it's been almost 20 years
Posted 10/16/2012 8:59 AM (GMT 0)
Heya I want to know this aswell. I need to start BC but am terrified it will make the UC worse.

I am just getting over a flare which began in september and have been on 40mg pred, 3.6g mesalazine and pentasa enemas every night for 6 weeks. I have just reduced steroids from 40mg to 35mg yesterday and just started my period yesterday aswell and believe i am flaring again! have much looser stools, increased frequency and some blood, though its hard to tell because I'm on my period.

I really don't want to go on Infliximab or Azathioprine. Is there anything else I can do to avoid these big scary drugs??? I have started probiotics, Aloe Vera juice and Omega 3 supplements aswell.
Posted 10/16/2012 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
BC pills make me much worse. And yes, hormones definately play a role in my UC.
Posted 10/16/2012 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think that my period makes my UC worse, although I didn't really have periods when I was flaring because as soon as I lost my breastmilk supply, I started back on birth control because I was terrified at the thought of getting pregnant (my UC started about 4 weeks after giving birth). However, I always get "funky" bowels in the day or two prior and the day I start my period and sometimes, have very bad symptoms, unless I am on birth control. I don't think this is related to my UC, though, because I've always, always done this.
Posted 10/16/2012 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
It looks like I probably don't even have UC, but I often have some sort of funky BM just as my period is starting. Having had experience with a painful bladder and resulting pelvic floor pain that fed back to the bladder and made everything worse, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some pelvic floor involvement in many cases of UC. I was sick all summer with what I thought was UC, and my muscles were definitely tense. Something to think about...there are books on the subject if you want to look them up.
Posted 10/16/2012 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Very true that even women that don't have an IBD or gut issues will still have wonky bowel issues around their period time since our hormones seem to be somehow linked with our guts. Before I got sick with IBD I never noticed any gut issues around my periods but after I got sick with IBD I did.
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