Is it Just me, or every girl faces the horrible gas before their period time?‎

♦ Is the giant gas a huge problem for every woman like how I face before my period? How can I stop FARTING? - and why are there such stinky period farts every time? You would think that the cramps, the tenderness of the breasts, the bloating of these -pants -don't fit, the-fit-sleep and the rampaging of my fridge in the cookie monster style would be enough premenstrual torture for a woman. But nope I have rank time farts. And I'm positive (relatively) that I'm not the only one. No, I'm not expecting you to be a member of the period fart sisterhood publicly.

♦ I have numbers: a 2014 study conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada found that 73% of women surveyed had at least one gastrointestinal symptom before or during their time. While abdominal pain and diarrhea are the most common, I believe it is safe to assume the involvement of farting as well. Abbe Wain, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at New York City's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, says she thinks so too. Dr. Wain tells me that when menstruation is about to begin, many patients complained to her about much worse gas. I basically excused myself for asking Dr. Wain such a stupid, nervous question (Why are my period farts so disgusting?) just after she delivered a baby. But it wasn't at all a stupid question she promised me. (Thank you, Dr. Wain!) Dr. Wain says that various theories can explain why women are plagued by period farts. But before we get there, I needed a reminder to start with why we're farting—and what makes farts smell. All gassy gals should know that farts are a "healthy, natural, and normal digestion by-product," says Ana Tuyama, MD, a Westmed Medical Group gastroenterologist at Purchase, New York. (But good luck offering that nugget to the yogi behind you next time you accidentally let one slip into the downward-facing dog.) Although accidental farting can make you want to die, farts usually don't mean anything wrong with your health—even if it's stinky. "Smelly gas is usually the result of food/stool matter in the colon being fermented by bacteria," explains Dr. Tuyama. Fully normal gut bacteria feast on the foods you eat and in the process produce smelly compounds containing sulfur. "Smelly gas is often associated with eating a high-sulfur, and plenty of the veggies fall into that category, BTW, it's not a bad thing.

♦ Now back to the farts of the period. As ovulation approaches—about the 13th or 14th day of your menstrual cycle—the hormone progesterone levels begin to rise "in preparation for a possible pregnancy," explains Texas-based ob-gyn Heather Bartos, MD. During pregnancy, progesterone is known to contribute to a "lazy intestine," says Dr. Bartos, resulting in constipation, burping, and morning sickness. But the GI floodgates open if you don't get pregnant and instead get your period. "It's not your imagination to get diarrhea at the beginning of your period," says Dr. Bartos. "All was held in" by progesterone during the PMS week, she says, and now it's, well, exiting. There's something else that contributes to all of your fartings. When you get your period, compounds called prostaglandins are released; they prompt the uterus lining to shed, Dr. Wain explains. Prostaglandins cause cramps of the period and make the muscle smoother "more mobile," she says. Prostaglandins not only clench your uterus in less doctoral terms, but they also move your colon—leading to farts and go-go-right-now poops of the period. "Prostaglandins can cause smooth muscle contractions in the digestive tract that lead to increased gastrointestinal pain, distention, and sometimes diarrhea," says Dr. Tuyama. As the production of prostaglandin increases, bloating and farting also occurs. (Fun prostaglandin fact: ibuprofen works against the compound; this is why Motrin or Advil may help soothe your cramps.)

♦ If period farts really plague you, try in the days leading up to tampon time to consume mostly unprocessed whole foods, Dr. Bartos says. "Going cleaner with your diet, gas tends to get better, plant-based food tends to move through the system better, and you may feel like your symptoms are almost gone," she says. Before your period, it is probably a good idea to also stick to easy-to-digest foods. In other words, it will only make a stinky situation worse for beans and cauliflower. Please don't be too embarrassed or nervous to talk to your doctor if you think there might be some food intolerance or something more serious behind your wind breaking. If you're a lady with more sensitive intestines than most—say, you've got irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease—you might find that menstruation makes things worse (cruel, cruel world). If you're pretty confident that you're dealing with normal but revolting time farts, there's no real reason to do anything about it. As Dr. Bartos wisely puts it: "Who cares if you're not bothered by it? " Exactly.