# What is period gas and why is it so bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543 "2016-01-29T02:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cjackson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a3d4f5/32.png) [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/1 "2016-01-29T02:15:55Z")
I’ve heard women talk about period farts before, and just wanted to know what they are, and why they have such a reputation. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/2 "2016-01-29T02:47:07Z")
According to WebMD, it’s common to get very gassy during menstruation, and imagine how it feels to have stomach pains from gas on top of cramps. It must really suck. I’m a guy so the worst thing I’ve dealt with is the occasional kidney stone. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/3 "2016-01-29T11:52:25Z")
[Here you go](http://www.buzzfeed.com/caseygueren/period-poop#.pjnWWN67NE). It’s one of the more direct answers in every day language without falling into “ew girls are gross because periods” thing that some seem to. In short: > [@](#): > > And those period farts? Those can come from your hormones too. Your gut bacteria actually changes along with your cycle, since it’s affected by your fluctuating hormone levels. As the bacterial fermentation changes, your gas changes — even if your diet stays the same, says Chutkan. So that’s why it smells like you just housed some Indian food, even though you did no such thing ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/4 "2016-01-29T15:25:50Z")
I’m sure the crack about Indian food was totally necessary though. :rolleyes: People do know that Indian people can eat Indian food just fine, right? It’s not some horrid food that inevitably makes you sick or smelly or something. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/5 "2016-01-29T17:33:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I’m sure the crack about Indian food was totally necessary though. :rolleyes: People do know that Indian people can eat Indian food just fine, right? It’s not some horrid food that inevitably makes you sick or smelly or something. I heard that in India, they don’t call Indian food “Indian food”. They just call it “food”. Who says you can’t learn stuff watching TV? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/6 "2016-01-29T18:09:14Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I heard that in India, they don’t call Indian food “Indian food”. They just call it “food”. Who says you can’t learn stuff watching TV? What do Native Americans call it? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/7 "2016-01-30T01:44:50Z")
Since it’s joke time, […here’s Andrew Dice Clay’s take on the subject.](https://youtu.be/IG1LndmBSLo?t=43) You’ll never be able to listen to Glenn Miller’s _In The Mood_ again…Big surprise - Totally\*\* **NSFW** \*!!!\*\*\*\*\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/8 "2016-01-30T01:51:55Z")
My girlfriend claims she craves more dairy products when she is on her period and also sweets. I don’t know how typical that might be. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/9 "2016-01-30T01:52:55Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I’m sure the crack about Indian food was totally necessary though. :rolleyes: People do know that Indian people can eat Indian food just fine, right? It’s not some horrid food that inevitably makes you sick or smelly or something. I’m sure for the writer, it was a crack…for me it’s literally true. My flatus during menstruation has this really overwhelming odor of turmeric, for no apparent reason. I mean, I take turmeric supplements, to be sure, but I take them every day of the month, not just when I’m menstruating. It’s weird. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/10 "2016-01-30T02:10:55Z")
I think regular Indians eat a lot of acorn meal. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/11 "2016-01-30T18:22:11Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > According to WebMD, it’s common to get very gassy during menstruation, and imagine how it feels to have stomach pains from gas on top of cramps. It must really suck. > > I’m a guy so the worst thing I’ve dealt with is the occasional kidney stone. If your significant other’s periods are worse than your kidney stones, she should see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![snuffleupagus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@snuffleupagus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snuffleupagus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-period-gas-and-why-is-it-so-bad/744543/12 "2016-01-31T20:42:55Z")
The same hormones that cause your uterus to cramp and contract to expel its lining during your period can also cause cramps and muscular contractions in other parts of your abdomen- like your intestines, causing gas, diarrhea, etc. Also lower back pain. [Menstrual Cramps Causes and Treatments](http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/menstrual-pain)