Although it's less common, women can also have hormone-related bloating from changing, starting or stopping birth control pills, or from the contraceptive Depo-Provera. Bloating due to these contraceptives, however, usually subsides after about three months.
Abdominal swelling may be a sign of early pregnancy, particularly in women who aren't using birth control. Older women who are taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes may also have discomfort from bloating.
Dr. Linda Bradley, a gynecologist and director of hysteroscopic services at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, says that after taking a younger woman's medical history, she often suggests the patient keep a diary of her symptoms to help determine the cause(s). If it appears to be related to the menstrual cycle, she may prescribe a mild diuretic or birth control pills. Exercising, avoiding gas-producing foods and adding bulk fiber to the diet may also ease premenstrual bloating.
Sometimes, Bradley says, women are not necessarily seeking treatment; many just want to know that the cause is nothing serious.
Gynecological Obstruction
If abdominal bloating is persistent rather then cyclical, it might be due to a mass such as an ovarian cyst or uterine fibroid. Women older than 50 need to be especially cautious and consult a doctor about any chronic bloating, because it could be a sign of an ovarian tumor. "Age makes a difference," Janik says. "An increase in abdominal size is much more concerning in women in the postmenopausal range."
