150 Premenstrual Symptoms
Premenstrual symptoms are a natural part of a woman's menstrual cycle. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 1 PMS affects over 85% of women sometime during their lives. Reactions to monthly hormonal changes can be mild, or none at all. When symptoms are mild to moderate, they can affect your job, relationships, or sense of well-being.
PMS symptoms vary from one woman to another, and will also vary from one menstrual cycle to another. The variance can be connected to increased emotional stress, diet (including the food you eat, or diet changes), or physical stress. More than 150 symptoms have been documented to have been linked to PMS. These 150 symptoms basically fall into 3 categories: physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms. While the list below is not a complete list of the 150 symptoms, they basically cover all of them.
Physical symptoms include:
- Breast swelling (engorgement) and tenderness.
- Bloating, water retention, and weight gain.
- Changes in bowel habits.
- Acne.
- Nipple discharge when nipples or breasts are pressed.
- Food cravings, especially for sweet or salty foods.
- Sleep pattern changes.
- Fatigue, lack of energy.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Headaches, including migranes.
- Pain. Common complaints are aching muscles and joints.
- Abdominal cramps and lower back pain.
Behavioral symptoms include:
- Aggression.
- Withdrawal from family and friends.
Emotional and cognitive symptoms include:
- Depression, sadness, hopelessness.
- Anger, irritability.
- Anxiety.
- Mood swings.
- Decreased alertness, inability to concentrate.
Premenstrual symptoms occur between ovulation and the start of menstrual bleeding. PMS can occur during this entire time, or it can appear briefly during ovulation. As stated above, the variance of your symptoms can be tied to emotional stress, diet (including the food you eat, or diet changes), or physical stress. Leading up to your next PMS phase, try regulating these 3 areas to reduce your symptoms. Proper diet, nutrition, and exercise can play a large role in the severity of your symptoms.
Resources:
1Davis AJ, Johnson SR (2000). Premenstrual syndrome. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 15, pp. 19. Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
This web site is intented for educational purposes only and should not substitute for the care of a medically trained physician.
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