You may have noticed that your bathroom habits get pretty wretched right around your period.

(If not, consider yourself among the lucky few.)

The bathroom struggle is very real.

You either can't go or can't stop going. Or if you're really, really unlucky... both.

Universal Pictures / Via misscinemafanatic.tumblr.com

And ohhh, the period farts.

So what’s going on with your digestive system that creates this hostile environment for your bowel — and, frankly, everyone around you? It mostly comes down to anatomy, hormones, and food.

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First, there's the issue of location: Your uterus is right near your colon.

Before your period, the lining in your uterus thickens to get ready for implantation. As the uterus gets more engorged, it can press up against the colon and lead to constipation and bloating, gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan, MD, author of Gutbliss , tells BuzzFeed Life. Then, as the uterus deflates, it can make it a lot easier to go (sometimes too easy).

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