Though the period occurs on a monthly basis, it doesn’t have a constant schedule. Menstrual cycles are different from woman to woman. But normally, the cycle length is 28 days. This means, on average, menstruation days repeat every 28 days. However, the period cycle may last from 21 days to 40 days and it's completely normal. Since the cycle length has a vast range, we never know when our period would surprise us. And, to be honest, it’s kinda stressful to not know the exact schedule of our monthly guests. Well, it’s of course our guest, though it’s absolutely unwanted. However, nature does have a soft corner for us. So, Premenstrual Syndromes are there to let us know that menstruation days are soon to arrive. PMS is a physical and psychological problems that arise a few days(5-10 days) before menstruation. It is the best way to know about the upcoming menses. And, we’re here to discuss the most common signs hinting you about your upcoming period. Let’s get started!
1. Breakouts
Pimples are pretty annoying, right? Breakouts and pimples are the most common premenstrual syndrome. The pimples indicating menstruation usually occur in the lower part of the face like cheeks, jawline, neck, and chin. Premenstrual acne is different from the normal pimple. The pimples are red and inflamed papules and rarely develop the whiteheads. According to a study published in the Archives of Dermatology, 63% of acne-prone women experience these premenstrual flares. So, if you experience breakouts, don’t feel alone. There are a bunch of women who face the same premenstrual flares. And, if you don’t get pimples before your period, consider yourself lucky.
2. Abdominal Cramps
I’m pretty sure none of you are unaware of this ordeal period cramps. Abdominal cramps during periods are pretty common in every woman who menstruates, The cramps arise a few days before the menstruation and continue throughout the period days. Basically, period cramp is the throbbing pain in the lower abdominal area where the uterus resides. Along with the unbearable pain, discomfort is pretty common too. During menstruation, the uterus contracts to help expel the uterus lining. Prostaglandins hormones are involved in pain and inflammation that trigger the uterine muscle contractions. The higher the levels of prostaglandins more severe the menstrual cramps.
3. Mood Swings and Anxiety
Being sad over tiny issues and being excited about nothing is the special period trait, right ladies? One moment you’re super-jolly and happy, and the next moment you're a sad and emotional little girl. You even don’t know the reason behind it. The body releases an egg a few days before the period, causing estrogen and progesterone levels to drop. This hormonal drop can lead to both physical and emotional symptoms. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels also influence serotonin levels causing mood swings. So, when you experience mood swings without any reason, your period might be near!
4. Fatigues and Back Pain
The female body becomes a little weaker on premenstrual and menstrual days than other normal days. The body feels tired and fatigued more often. The hormone that maintains the energy level as estrogen and serotonin fluctuate. So, the body becomes more vulnerable to fatigue, and the lower back of the body experiences pain. In addition, the fatigue may also be linked with other physical premenstrual symptoms like abdominal cramps, insomnia, headaches, and many more. As the body already has many issues during premenstrual days, it’s pretty common to be tired and weak, However, after a few days of menstruation, the body restores the energy and gets back to its normal state.
5. Sore Breasts
Well, most of the premenstrual and menstrual symptoms are due to the fluctuation in hormones. Breast tenderness isn’t anything different! The level of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate causing the breast ducts to enlarge and milk ducts to swell. As a result, discomfort and slight pain in the breast might be common in many women. The majority of women feel their breasts are slightly larger during menstruation. There’s nothing to worry about if the discomfort and pain don’t harm much. However, if the pain is excessive and lasts for a longer duration (even after the menstruation ends), one should immediately seek medical help.
6. Food Cravings
Hot chili pickles, sweet ice cream, crispy nuggets. The list we crave before and during menstruation keeps on getting longer, right ladies? No matter how strict a diet you are on, you can’t have control over your undeniable food cravings. This is one of the most common premenstrual symptoms and most probably our favorite one! You hold your heart tight to not have all those sweets and pickles. And suddenly menstruation is near and you can’t do anything but treat your craving stomach! At least we get a reason to have a series of cheat days. Well, all credit goes to hormonal fluctuation. Treat yourself better with everything you crave for.
The above mentioned are the most common Premenstrual Syndromes. Many women face these symptoms. However, PMS isn’t just limited to those. Some of the other less common PMS are as follow:
- Changes in sex drive
- Insomnia
- Greasy hair
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Lack of concentration
Though PMS and menstruation aren’t avoidable, the negative effect can be reduced to some extent with a healthy lifestyle. Explore some great tips to make your period days better and enjoy this gift of mother nature!