Throwing Up On Period: Causes Of Vomiting First Day, Easy Treatment

Last updated on July 26th, 2018 at 05:19 pm

Question: Why do I keep throwing up on period? Is vomiting first day of period sign of pregnancy?

There are many things a woman won’t take for granted, and PMS symptoms before period is one of them.

During this time, it’s common that some women get different signs, and sometimes, it’s possible symptoms will continue until after period starts.

Days before the start of menstruation, most women get an on-off cramps and back pain. Depending on the severity of the cramps it could affect your regular routine.

Apart from cramps that some women experience, nausea before period is quite common, and the truth is, if you are unlucky, you may also experience vomiting. These symptoms can happen before your menstrual period and continue into your period.

If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting during period, you are not alone. Here’s an email I received from Amyla (one of my readers)

Dear Dr. Dunn, This is my very first time to visit this awesome blog. My hubby and I are just beginning to prepare for my second pregnancy this month. I had a crucial business trip last month, but before and after I returned, we had unprotected sexual intercourse.

I 100 % predicted to have got my menses yesterday, but its one day late and I feel odd signs. My breast seems heavier than usual, and I feel an uncontrollable urge to throw up.

Usually, I do experience nausea and vomiting before my period that continues to the first and second day of menstruation; But now, it’s worse, and it seems like I want to throw up every time.

I’ve had a pregnancy test done, but my hubby says its too early to confirm yet after a negative result. When can I take another pregnancy test, and is it possible it might not be pregnancy?

Apart from being a sign of period coming, nausea and vomiting could be a sign of pregnancy. So, if you are expecting your period, and then experience nausea, vomiting, heavy breasts, back pain, and light vaginal bleeding it could be pregnancy.

Having said that, if you can’t hold food down and you are vomiting for days or weeks, its likely something else. Other serious causes of vomiting are food poisoning, gastritis, endometriosis, and cancers.

This article explains why you are throwing up during period, other signs that may indicate you are already pregnant, and when to worry and see a doctor as quickly as possible.

Why I’m I throwing up on period?

If you are vomiting on period, Here are the possible reasons it happens

High level of prostaglandins

Prostaglandins trigger many symptoms before and during period; And along with diarrhea or belly cramps, prostaglandins can act on your intestines and make you feel like throwing up.

After your ovaries release an egg (during ovulation), both estrogen and progesterone stimulate the lining covering your womb to become thickened.

This thick uterine lining, called endometrium, continues to increase in size throughout the latter part of your menstrual cycle. This happens because a woman’s body naturally prepares for pregnancy, and a thick endometrium help to house a fertilized egg (if you get pregnant).

In women that do not conceive (or never had sexual intercourse), this endometrium is washed out as your period with bleeding for 5- 7 days.

Before your period starts, your body starts producing prostaglandins, and it works to make your uterus muscles contract, and then, expel the endometrium out of your womb. In women, that have high levels of prostaglandins, they may experience different symptoms, including vomiting.

First of all, high levels of prostaglandins make your womb contract excessively, meaning, it causes pain that makes you have less appetite for food.

Also, prostaglandins can move into your other body system, including your digestive tract and affect your intestines. If this happens, you will feel nausea and vomiting.

Vomiting on period: When to worry?

Most time, women who experience vomiting during period will not have any other symptom. In fact, in most women, hormone changes with high prostaglandins is the cause.

Having said that, if you are throwing up all the time, something is wrong. Here are other reasons you can’t keep food in your stomach.

1.  Endometriosis

If you are experiencing severe cramps and vomiting during period, it could be due to endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a common medical condition that affects young menstruating women, and involve the unusual displacement of your womb’s endometrium to other parts of your body.

It could be located in your oviducts (fallopian tubes), ovaries, or within your abdomen. To be frank, most women that have endometriosis mainly complain of unbearable cramps before and during menstruation. But also, they experience an increased urge to throw up during period.

Other symptoms of endometriosis are heavy vaginal bleeding that may last a long time. This means you now have much more sanitary pads or tampoon than usual.

Also, you may feel nauseous, back pain, painful sexual intercourse, and body weakness.

2.  Uterine fibroids

If you are throwing up during period, it could be due to a uterine fibroid located within your womb.

Uterine fibroids are commonly found in a lot of women without any obvious symptoms. But if you are unlucky, you may experience prolonged periods with increases urge to throw up while menstruating.

Leg pain, constipation, and painful urination are other symptoms you will experience if fibroid tumor is very huge.

3.  Food poisoning

Very commonly, a lot of women will have nausea and vomiting because of toxic contaminated food or drinks they have taken hours, days, or weeks back.

Food poisoning is quite common, and if you are experiencing vomiting for days after taking a meal, it could be due to bacterial, viral or parasitic infections.

Symptoms of food poisoning are low fever, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, mild to severe headaches, body weakness, and lack of appetite.

Treatment of vomiting during period

If you feel like throwing up on period and it’s not serious, you could wait it out for a few days. Usually, after the first day of period, symptoms subside, and you will feel okay.

However, if you continue to feel nauseous or you are vomiting on period, here are easy ways to feel okay.

1.  Birth control pills

Birth control medication can be used to stop vomiting during period, and they work to prevent ovulation, and then lower prostaglandins level that causes these symptoms.

See your doctor for assistance

2.  Use painkillers

Drugs like Ibuprofen and Naproxen can be used to help reduce your symptoms. The work by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins, and if you’ve taken these medications before the start of period, you will notice symptoms will not be severe.

However, if symptoms get worse, see a doctor for help.

Vomiting first day of period, why?

If you are vomiting on the first day of period, it not unusual. This occurs because prostaglandins levels are elevated on the first and second day of period.

Provided you don’t feel thirsty or dehydrated for days, there is no reason to panic. Though, you must see your doctor if symptoms become severe.

Is vomiting during period a sign of pregnancy?

If you are throwing up while on period, its unlikely due to pregnancy. However, implantation bleeding may be confused as period, and if you also feel nauseous with vomiting, its possible you are pregnant.

This guide explains what implantation bleeding looks like.