Today kids, we will be talking about the wonderful world of period poops. Once a month, some women experience something called menstruation. Menstruation is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. For some, it is also a not so gentle, but wonderful reminder that you didn’t accidentally get preggos this month. Periods bring an onslaught of discomfort in the form of cramps, bloating, and sheer disdain for the world around you. With a seemingly never-ending flow of blood leaking through your lady parts, the last thing you want is a seemingly never-ending flow of diarrhea leaking from you butt.

According to Jamile Wakim-Fleming, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio: up to 50% of women will experience some form of digestive distress during their period. Estimating that the average woman will have about 450 periods in her lifetime, that’s a lot of blood and a whole lot of poop. But why? Why is it that once a month, we completely explode from our bottom halves.

Blame prostaglandins, a group of lipids made at sites of tissue damage or infection that are involved in dealing with injury and illness. They control processes such as inflammation, blood flow, the formation of bloodclots, and the induction of labor. Production of prostaglandins increases when your period is on its way so the uterus can easily push out blood. Prostaglandins also trigger diarrhea.

But prostaglandins aren’t alone. In fact, they are in cohoots with a hormone called progesterone, which increases right before your Aunt Flo stops by. Increased levels of progesterone can affect the GI system by speeding up or slowing down digestion. In other words, it will either cause a lot of diarrhea or intense constipation.

If you want to avoid experiencing these inconvenient gastrointestinal issues, exercising and eating a fiber-rich diet are great ways to start. Taking vitamin B6 or calcium leading up to your period can also help. Both nutrients can inhibit the risk of stomach issues.

“If none of these treatments are helping, talk to your ob-gyn and make sure there isn’t something more serious going on that requires attention,” says Dr. Walkin-Fleming. And to give you a little more peace of mind and comfort, use TUSHY. No matter what murder scene takes place in your toilet, rest assured that you can walk away clean as a whistle. TUSHY will give you a thorough clean front to back, leaving you fresh and clean.