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Yes, prostaglandins contribute to heartburn during periods; however, the main cause for heartburn is the female hormone progesterone.
Heartburn (or acid reflux) is the burning feeling you get in your chest when stomach acid backs up into your food pipe (the tube leading from your throat to your stomach). Prostaglandins, the same chemicals that cause your period cramps, can interfere with the muscle function necessary to prevent this.
1. Progesterone (The Main Relaxer)
The hormone progesterone rises sharply before your period. Its main job is to relax the muscles of the uterus, allowing the uterine lining to thicken and prepare for a pregnancy. This hormone has the same relaxing effect on all smooth muscles in the body, including the muscle valve at the top of your stomach—medically known as the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).
2. Prostaglandins (The Cramp Chemical)
While prostaglandins are primarily known to cause uterine contractions (cramps) and intestinal irritation leading to diarrhea (“period poops”), a certain type of prostaglandin (PGE2) adds to this muscle relaxation and general inflammation. This action contributes to the muscle valve loosening or relaxing too much, making the heartburn worse plus creating a bitter, uncomfortable taste in your mouth.
Please note that prostaglandins are complex chemicals and are of different types. The same prostaglandins also leak into the blood, travel to organs such as the intestine and irritate the smooth muscles of the intestine to cause diarrhea during periods, also known as period poop.
3. The Combined Effect
The acids of the stomach are meant to stay in the stomach. But when the LES muscle valve relaxes due to the combined action of progesterone and prostaglandins, the strong stomach acid can easily go back up into your food pipe, causing the burning feeling known as heartburn.
Quickest Relief and Management
- Antacids: Over-the-counter antacids can provide fast relief by neutralising the stomach acid.
- Lifestyle: Avoid triggering foods in the days leading up to your period, such as very spicy, fatty, or highly acidic foods.
- Sleeping Position: Do not lie down immediately after eating, and try to elevate your head slightly while sleeping.
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