Does the menstrual cycle affect the symptoms of ulcerative colitis? Can it trigger a flare-up?

I am 47 years old and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 21 years ago. I was not symptomatic until approximately 10-11 years ago. I was in remission for approximately 1 1/2 years until recently when my remicade treatments stopped working. I am now subsequently starting over it seems.
I have noticed in the last few weeks that I am experiencing hot flashes and because I am, my colitis seems to be very flared up. Is there anything I can take for menopause symptoms that won't further mess with my colitis?
In reading these other accounts, I think I am on track with thinking this is what is flaring me up, so if there is anything that is working, please let me know.
Thank you so much!!

Hello,

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 1993, and now I am 51 years old, and in the last two or three years, every time I would start my period I would go into a flare and after my periods was done, I would still be in a flare up for days, I take all my meds plus a very high CFU probiotic. Now I have been for the last year I am in menopause mode. But this time it is a different flare up, I usually bleed with my flare ups, but this time I am not, I am experiencing bloating and diarrhea, and then constipated, I am trying to drink as much water as possible,even Gatorade, low sodium, but like I said this flare up is different, when I started again, I thought to my self wow I just stopped my menstrual cycle two weeks ago, and then I didn’t have a flare up, which I was really glad.
So this next Friday I am having a colonoscopy. I have had so many of those things because of my condition. My father died from colon cancer, and my mother died from heart disease. What can I do to prevent another flare up?

Looks like a shortage of information on this issue. My UC came on with my first pregnancy, flared badly with my second pregnancy and has been extremely mild for 15 years until now when I've stopped having periods. I'm not taking any drugs for the menopause, the symptoms are tolerable (so far). I've been taking asacol regularly for years.

I am also a female with long term UC who is finding it has flared badly recently and believe that I am in menopause (hard to tell as steroids can mess with the cycle) and wondering if this is playing a part. Have found very little research about it. Am wondering if things might improve after menopause.

Anon, thank you so much for your question.

I am assuming you have colitis, and that you're having increased symptoms around the time of your period?

The answer is yes, that symptoms do worsen (in both ulcerative colitis and in Crohn's Disease) around the time of your period, due to the changes in your levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Some women go on birth control pills to help control the symptoms.

It's also common for women with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) also have flare-ups related to their periods.

Here are a couple of resources that discuss this:

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/relatedconditions/a/ibsibdpms.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9772046
http://dailystrength.org/c/Crohns_Disease_Ulcerative_Colitis/forum/3622437-menstrual-cramps

Can you tell us what specifically is happening with you?