Bloating and Gas Before Period: Pregnancy or PMS? Easy Treatment

Question: Is bloating and gas before period a sign of pregnancy or period coming? What meals worsen stomach upset before period?

Within one or two weeks before the start of a woman’s menstrual period, it’s not surprising to see and feel different body changes that indicate menstruation is close.

In some women, their breast begins to swell with tenderness, and this occurs because of the effect of hormones like progesterone and estrogen. Also, some other women will feel sharp or dull cramps in the lower part of their belly that comes and goes before menstruation starts.

Other signs that you could experience one or two weeks before the start of your period are body weakness, pimples on your face, changes in mood, headache, lower back pain, and a thick white vaginal discharge that is usually odourless and not itchy. 

Apart from these symptoms, flatulence (commonly referred to as fart) and bloating can also be a sign of period coming.

If you are very gassy before period starts and wondering if it’s okay or not, this article explains the reason you fart before period, when it is usually normal, when it could be dangerous, and when it could also happen in early pregnancy.

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What causes bloating and gas before period?

A woman’s reproductive system is made up of the uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovaries. This system ensures that you have regular menstruation, and it is controlled by different hormones.

After the end of your menstrual period, your body spontaneously increases the production of estrogen hormone. Estrogen is the most prominent hormone after your period ends and will stay high till a few days before ovulation occurs.

After ovulation (which means the release of eggs from your ovaries), your body starts producing progesterone at higher levels. This hormone changes your body, including your breast, vaginal discharge, and your intestines and other parts of your digestive system.

At your breast, it enlarges breast tissues and causes your breast to swell up. At your vagina, it causes your discharge to look and feel sticky.

One more effect of progesterone is in your gut (the digestive tract). Your small and large intestines are an integral part of your digestive system. Their work is to convert food into energy (that is used by your body for daily activities) and push out waste product through the other end (the anus).

Following ovulation, and because of raised levels of progesterone, the motility of your gut can become slower, especially in some women, resulting in constipation. In such a circumstance, it allows gas to accumulate in your intestine, resulting in abdominal bloating and gas before period. Taylor & Francis Online+1

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Is gas a symptom of PMS or pregnancy?

In a lot of women, before menstrual period gets underway, they begin to experience different signs. Often, cramps, acne, breast swelling are felt by women before period starts. On top of that, feeling gassy before period and abdominal bloating could also be a sign of period coming. Cleveland Clinic+1

While these signs are common before menstruation begins, women that get pregnant may experience these symptoms before missed period. So, if you feel gassy before period, it could also happen in early pregnancy, but on its own it is not a reliable way to know if you are pregnant. For a fuller list of early pregnancy symptoms, see this Mayo Clinic guide: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853 Mayo Clinic

Remember that progesterone hormone slows down the movement of food past your gut. As your period approaches, there is a fall in progesterone, and then, it’s normal for some women to feel loose stool or mild diarrhea before and during period due to the improved motility of your intestines and the effect of prostaglandins.

During early pregnancy, progesterone levels do not fall in the same way, resulting in continued action on your gut muscles with constipation, bloating and flatulence for many women. You can also check this explanation from the American Pregnancy Association:
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/gas-during-pregnancy/ American Pregnancy Association

The truth is, during early pregnancy, hormone changes cause different symptoms, and while constipation or diarrhea can sometimes happen, they are not an accurate way to tell if you are pregnant or not. Mayo Clinic+1

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What to do if you suspect pregnancy?

It’s difficult to tell if you are pregnant with just examining the frequency of “farting” and hardness of your stool. If you feel pregnancy symptoms, the only reliable way to confirm you’re pregnant is through blood or urine pregnancy test.

These tests check for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which level could sometimes go undetectable before missing your period. If you get negative results while you’re yet to miss your period, it may still be inaccurate. So, better still, wait for a missed period, and then, test again. If your period is more than one week late with repeated negative tests, see your doctor for further checks. Mayo Clinic+1

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Non Serious causes of gas before period

While it’s possible that your excessive gas before period is due to hormone changes, it could be due to what you’ve eaten or drank, and also, your lifestyle.

Here’s an email I received from Maria (one of my readers)

Hi Doc,
I am 24 years old and had intercourse three weeks ago (unprotected) with my partner. While I’m expecting my period, I started experiencing horrific gas before period, and I’m wondering if its okay or not.

My period was supposed to commence three days ago (25th of July) and yet I don’t have any signs.

I feel fatigued, and my breast hurts more. I have taken a pregnancy test last week and its negative. What are your thoughts? Should I repeat my pregnancy test?

Just like Maria, if you feel painful abdominal bloating and gas so much before period, you will be worried about pregnancy if you’ve engaged in an unprotected sexual activity.

While it could be pregnancy (if you’ve had intercourse without a condom), it could also be due to any of these.

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What you’ve eaten

It’s not abnormal for women to fart during the day or at night. In fact, if you are not “passing gas” at all, it’s unusual and could mean your bowels are not moving well.

In a day, a woman can pass gas many times. Most people pass gas up to about 20 times per day, and it’s nothing abnormal if you release gas more than this as long as you feel well and have no red flag symptoms. Mayo Clinic MedlinePlus has a helpful overview of gas and flatulence here: https://medlineplus.gov/gas.html MedlinePlus

Worst still, what you’ve eaten could cause increased abdominal bloating and flatulence before period. Food and drinks that produce “horrific farting” in many people are beans, cabbage and cauliflower, yogurt or milk (especially if you have lactose intolerance), alcohol, carbonated beverages, apples, onions, pasta, and bread. MedlinePlus+1

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You are smoking

If you are smoking, its advisable to quit now. This is because much more gas moves into your intestine when you swallow air, and smoking also has many other serious health risks.

Other causes of flatulence are lack of exercise, chewing gum, using a straw while you drink, and consumption of too many carbohydrates or high gas-forming foods.

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Serious causes of flatulence and bloating

While “passing gas” is most likely normal, it could be a sign of a developing health issue if it is new, very severe, or associated with other worrying symptoms. NIDDK+1

Serious medical conditions that can cause excessive gas and bloating are

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Lactose intolerance

• Celiac disease

• GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)

• Food poisoning or gut infection

• Bowel obstruction or intestinal cancer (usually with weight loss, vomiting or blood in stool)

If you have persistent bloating for more than two to three weeks, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, blood in your stool, fever, or unintentional weight loss, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

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How to prevent and stop gas before period

Your body hormones change from time to time, and it’s outside your control to regulate your menstrual cycle hormones; so, there is little you can do to stop farting completely.

However, you can try some of these to prevent or reduce bloating and gas days before your period.

• Have regular exercise

• Avoid or limit certain meals before the start of menstruation, especially those that you already know cause gas for you

• Quit smoking

• Stop chewing gum and avoid drinking through straws

• Take a lot of water every day

• Gradually increase fibre in your diet (especially fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and monitor how your body reacts

Talk to your doctor if gas and bloating are very painful, suddenly different from your usual PMS, or wake you up from sleep at night. For more home care tips about gas, you can also read: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003123.htm MedlinePlus