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Quick answer
Bloating before and during a period is common and linked to hormone changes that affect fluid balance and digestion. It usually peaks just before the period and eases a few days in. Gentle exercise, regular meals, cutting back on salt and fizzy drinks, and easing constipation can help. Persistent bloating that is not cyclical should be checked.
- Bloating before periods is a very common PMS symptom.
- Movement, water, smaller meals and less fizz can help.
- Bloating that does not settle, especially with other symptoms, needs a GP check.
Feeling puffy before or during your period? Bloating is one of the most common PMS symptoms on the NHS list, and the NHS notes that some people feel bloated around the time of their period. Hormone changes can affect how much water you hold onto and how fast your gut moves. In a study of healthy women, most reported at least one gut symptom around their period.
What helps period bloating?
- Move regularly: exercise helps digestion, and helps when you are already bloated.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals, and chew with your mouth closed so you swallow less air.
- Cut back on fizzy drinks, alcohol and caffeine.
- If you are constipated, soluble fibre like oats or linseed can help.
- Massage your tummy from right to left to help shift trapped wind.
- A pharmacist can suggest medicines such as simeticone for bloating, or laxatives for constipation.
- Period
Usually eases once your period gets going.
- Luteal
Bloating often builds in the days before your period.
When bloating is not about your cycle
The NHS says bloating that does not go away can occasionally be a sign of something more serious, such as ovarian cancer. This is rare, and bloating has many more common causes, such as constipation, food intolerances, coeliac disease and IBS. But NICE says to arrange tests in primary care for anyone with persistent or frequent bloating, feeling full quickly or loss of appetite, pelvic or tummy pain, or needing to wee urgently or more often, particularly more than 12 times a month. The pattern to notice is bloating that does not follow your period.
- Lasts all month
- Builds before your period and eases after it starts
- Only happens at ovulation
Show the answer
B. Builds before your period and eases after it starts
PMS bloating typically comes in the luteal phase and settles as your period gets going. Bloating on most days is worth a GP check.
Sources
Written by the Splash teamSources checked
This is general information, not medical advice. Splash can’t diagnose. If you’re worried, talk to a GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US). How we write and check articles.