IF you’re trying to get pregnant, you’re probably tracking ovulation.
You can do this through period or ovulation tracking apps; But your body also provides important clues about your fertility – some of them not so glamorous.
If you have a bout of diarrhea mid-cycle, it could be a sign that you are ovulating.
“Because the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and reproductive system share the pelvis, often something that affects one can affect the other,” Allison Rodgers, board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist and director of education at Fertility Centers of Illinois, said Good + good.
As a result, you may notice that your poop is waterier than usual—even bordering on diarrhea—during ovulation.
What is ovulation?
Ovulation occurs when an egg is released from the ovary, traveling down the fallopian tube where it can be fertilized by sperm.
This is usually the point of the month when you are most fertile, usually in the middle of your menstrual cycle.
According to the NHS, ovulation usually occurs around 12 to 16 days before your period starts, so you’ll be able to find out when you’re likely to ovulate if you have a regular cycle.
But pinpointing the exact period when this is happening can be tricky, since your egg only stays in your fallopian tubes for 12 to 24 hours, according to Mayo clinic.
Can diarrhea be a sign of ovulation?
According to Dr. Rodgers, going for runs could be a sign that you’re ovulating.
“Some people notice a huge correlation between their menstrual cycles and bowel symptoms,” she said, including a correlation between ovulation and bouts of diarrhea.
The culprits behind your number two are hormones called prostaglandins, which play a role in egg release and also relax the smooth muscle tissue inside the uterus to facilitate the shedding of the uterine lining that occurs during menstruation.
Prostaglandins can also relax intestinal muscles, causing “the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract to [to respond] moving digested food faster,” Dr. Rodgers explained.
This can result in watery poop.
These hormones are also behind the number twos you may get before or during your period, known as period poops.
Who is most likely to see a change in bowel habits during ovulation?
But not everyone will see changes in their bowel habits during ovulation or menstruation, as they are not “sensitive” to prostaglandins.
And if you already have bowel problems that tend to result in diarrhea – such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – runny poop may not always be the most reliable indicator of ovulation, as it can be difficult to identify its cause.
According to Dr. Rodgers, you may be more prone to digestive issues during ovulation if you suffer from endometriosis, a painful condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
If you have endometriosis in the intestine itself, it can cause diarrhea or looser poop, she added.
Having IBS or Crohn’s disease can also make you more prone to digestive problems during your period, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
What are other signs that I’m ovulating?
There are other indications of ovulation that you can watch for, according to Cleveland Clinic:
- A slight increase (about 0.5 to 1 degree) in body temperature when you’re at rest – you can detect this with a thermometer, but you’d have to monitor it every day of the month to see a difference
- A change in cervical mucus – you may notice wetter, clearer, slipperier mucus around the time of ovulation
- Soft breasts
- Swelling
- Mild pelvic or stomach pain
- Light bleeding or spotting
- Increased sexual desire
- Increased sense of smell, taste, or vision
- Change of mood
- Appetite changes
How can I control diarrhea?
DIARRHEA involves passing looser, waterier or more frequent poop than is normal for you.
Although it can be unpleasant, it is usually nothing to worry about.
Typically, this goes away within a few days to a week.
An intestinal infection is often a common cause of diarrhea and may be the result of a virus, bacteria, or parasite.
Make sure you:
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration – take small sips of water frequently
- Use an oral rehydration solution (ORS) if you are particularly at risk of dehydration
- Eat solid foods as soon as you feel able
- Avoid fatty or spicy foods, as well as fruit juices and soft drinks
- Stay home until at least 48 hours after your last episode of diarrhea to avoid passing on any infections to others
Talk to your doctor if you have diarrhea and:
- It is particularly common or severe
- Lasts more than seven days
- Poop has blood
- You are vomiting and cannot keep fluids down
- You have severe or ongoing stomach pain
- You are experiencing weight loss
- You have had a lot of very watery diarrhea
- Occurs at night and disturbs sleep
- You have recently taken antibiotics or been treated in hospital
- You have signs of dehydration – including drowsiness, urinating less than usual, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- You have dark or black poop – this could be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach
Source: NHS report
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