Studies show that over 740,000 people in America have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), which is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can lead to inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract (large intestine). The condition is easily diagnosed in people between the ages of 15 and 35 years: the active years of life. The effects of this condition can also be seen in the reproductive system, especially the menstrual cycle.
In this article, we will discuss some things to know about the connection between ulcerative colitis and your menstrual cycle.
Ulcerative colitis and irregular periods
You may notice alterations in your menstrual cycle or unstable periods years before getting diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
A study done in 2014 on 121 women showed that they had changed in the duration of their period years before the diagnosis. Additionally, over one-fifth of the women experienced changes in the timing of their period. This study also revealed that the menstrual cycle of these women returned to normal after several years because of proper treatment. Experts suggest that early factors of IC and IBD caused unstable periods in women. More research is needed to understand this connection better.
It would help to know that people with an unstable menstrual cycle that happened before they were diagnosed with IBD are not prone to infertility [1].