RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GASTROINTESTINAL AND DYSMENORRHEIC SYMPTOMS AT MENSES

The relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and uterine cr amping pain at menses, controlling for affective states and prostaglan din synthesis inhibitor use, was examined. A total of 53 women complet ed a daily diary of symptoms, stool characteristics, and medication us e for three consecutive menstrual cycles. There were significant acros s-women and within-woman relationships between stomach pain, nausea, a nd uterine cramping pain, but not between cramping pain and constipati on, diarrhea, or stool characteristics. These results support the pres ence of a similar mechanism in the generation of distressing GI sympto ms and uterine cramping pain at menses. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, In c.