9 Signs You Are Getting Your Period

Are you moody and anxious? Are you feeling pain in your tummy and tenderness in your breasts? Then, chances are you are getting your period. When your period is around the corner, it’s common to experience certain physical and emotional symptoms. Known as PMS (premenstrual syndrome), such symptoms are experienced by around 75% of women during their reproductive years. PMS symptoms range from mild to severe, and can manifest at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Of course, not every person is the same! You may experience either a calm or more intense period. In addition to that, periods can differ month to month. If you would like to learn about common menstrual symptoms and their causes, keep scrolling down.

1. You are tired but can’t sleep

You may feel exhausted and may struggle to fall asleep. This has to do with hormonal changes. More specifically, it happens because your body shifts from getting ready to support a pregnancy to menstruation. Ten days before your period, it was preparing for the big event; the egg meeting some sperm and traveling to the uterus.

But, when no fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining, the hormones that supported the process are no longer needed. As a result, hormone levels decrease. Your body is no longer in a state of high alert, which results in energy-draining changes. Until your hormone levels peak again, (around 2 weeks after the beginning of your period), you’ll most likely feel tired.

2. You are breaking out

Acne is a very common issue at this time of the month. In fact, almost 50% of women experience an increase in acne a week before the beginning of their period. Rising hormone levels produce lots of oil (sebum) that clog your skin pores causing breakouts on your forehead, chin, and jawline. You can also get pimples on your back or other parts of your body.

3. Your breasts are sore and tender

Do your breasts feel tender or heavy? As you already know, your hormones rise and fall during the menstrual cycle. The exact timing of hormonal changes varies for every person. In any case, estrogen causes the breast ducts to enlarge and progesterone swells the milk glands. Both of these changes make your breasts feel sore, heavy, and even a bit painful. While these symptoms are harmless, you should contact your doctor if you notice new breast lumps, lumps in one breast, brown or bloody discharge from a nipple, or if you experience intense pain.

4. You get abdominal cramps

Menstrual cramps or primary dysmenorrhea are very common menstrual symptoms. They begin bothering you right before or during your period and can last for 2 or 3 days. You may feel an achy, cramping sensation in your abdomen that can also spread toward your lower back and upper tights.

Uterine contractions cause these annoying cramps. Lipids called prostaglandins trigger contractions. Prostaglandins are typically involved in pain and inflammation, and higher levels of their production contribute to more intense menstrual cramps. Not everyone gets menstrual cramps though. However, if you do, you may experience anything from a dull ache to severe pain.

5. You go through mood swings

Not everything is physical! You can experience some emotional symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and depression. If you are feeling unusually cranky or down, you have your fluctuating estrogen levels to blame. Estrogen affects the production of serotonin and endorphins in the brain, the “happy chemicals”. As a result, there are fewer feelings of well-being and more irritability, anxiety, and depression.

6. You have bowel issues

Your bathroom habits can change during periods. Some women get diarrhea, while others get constipation. It isn’t exactly clear why this happens, but experts suspect it has to do with the increase in prostaglandins. These are the hormones produced before your period. Prostaglandins reduce the intestine’s rate of absorption, making food pass through the colon way faster. These hormones can also raise electrolyte levels, which causes diarrhea. Additionally, you can experience gassiness and nausea.

7. Your lower back hurts

By now, you know that the uterine walls contract, causing painful or mildly uncomfortable abdominal cramps. Such contractions can also cause muscle contractions in your lower back or thighs. You may feel acute pain or just slight discomfort.

8. You get headaches

Over 50% of people who suffer from migraines see an occurrence of migraines and their period. Migraines can happen before, during, or after menstruation. The neurotransmitter serotonin is the one responsible for causing migraines and headaches. Estrogen can increase serotonin levels and receptors during periods. This interaction between estrogen and serotonin results in these annoying migraines you experience.

9. You are bloated

You might have noticed that, before the start of your period, your abdomen feels heavy and swollen. Perhaps you struggle to zip up your jeans or fit in your most beloved clothes. Researchers believe that changes in progesterone and estrogen levels make the body retain more water and salt. Your body’s cells become swollen with water, which causes bloating.

How can I deal with menstrual symptoms?

If you experience any of the PMS symptoms above, don’t worry! There’s always a solution. The severity of the symptoms will determine the kind of treatment that is best suited for your needs. If you have mild to moderate symptoms, for example, the following changes in your lifestyle and diet can do the trick:

• Work out moderately to boost your mood and potentially reduce the intensity of cramps;
• Reduce your salt intake to ease bloating;
• Place a hot water bottle or a heating pad on your abdomen to relieve cramps;
• Eat small and frequent meals to stabilize your blood sugar;
• Meditate or relax to improve feelings of well-being.

If your PMS symptoms are severe and disrupt your daily life, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

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