A woman's life is a repetitive rhythm driven by hormones. They affect your body and mind. Fortunately, many of the unpleasant discomforts associated with PMS can be relieved. Find out why you are in a bad mood before your period and how to change it.
Whether you like it or not, your life is greatly influenced byhormones . Especially those whose amount is constantly changing - i.e.estrogensandprogesterone . They are to blame for the fact that you want to laugh once, only a moment later everything upsets you and you feel sad. This hormonal swing is also the cause of ailments that often plague us before menstruation - the so-called syndromepremenstrual tension- and during them.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) - where it comes from
Regardless of when you had your period for the first time (usually between the ages of 11 and 14), after 2 years, menstruation should become regular, i.e. every 28 days, last from 3 to 6 days . Of course, one woman may have 24-day cycles and another 30-day cycles, and that's fine. However, if the cycles last less than 20 days or longer than 36, even if you do not feel any discomfort, you should consult a gynecologist. The causes of such cycle fluctuations are usually hormonal disorders, thyroid disease, changes in the uterus or ovaries. They absolutely need to be treated.
Problems with menstruation - when to see the gynecologist
It's also worth talking to your gynecologist if your periods are painful. The usual cause is prostaglandins, which act on the smooth muscles of the fallopian tubes and uterus. Their high concentration causes contractions in the lower abdomen. When you feel pain, try to relax, relax. You can take a painkiller or an anti-inflammatory agent (apap, panadol, ibuprom, no-spa). However, do not exceed the daily dose and do not take agents containing acetylsalicylic acid (even in small doses), as they may increase bleeding. The cause of pains occurring during menstruation may also be a narrow canal of the cervix (secretion in the form of clots presses against it). The cause is also the presence of fibroids in the uterus, inflammation of the ovaries. Therefore, it is better to tell the gynecologist about period pains, who will recommend appropriate treatment. The reason foranxiety, there are also heavy bleeding (you can talk about them when you use more than 10 pads during the day). Also, be sure to talk to your doctor, as heavy periods can be caused by uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, or inflammation of the reproductive organs that need to be treated. Remember that losing a large amount of blood may cause anemia, so your gynecologist - in addition to carrying out tests - may recommend you to take hematopoietic preparations: iron, folic acid, B vitamins. Even if you menstruate regularly, you may stop your period. This is not necessarily due to the pregnancy. The reason may be, for example, too intense weight loss, severe stress, intense physical exertion. If two weeks have passed (and you are not pregnant - the pregnancy test is negative), go to the gynecologist. He will determine the cause of the amenorrhea and recommend appropriate treatment.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) - taming the problem
PMS doesn't usually appear in girls, but only in women between the ages of 20 and 30. Ladies complain about this ailment up to the menopause (with a break for pregnancy). The causes are not fully known, but hormonal disorders are considered the main one. In the first half of the cycle (between the 1st and 14th day from the first day of menstruation), the level of estrogen increases significantly, while the level of progesterone increases in the second half. However, if in the second half of the cycle there is not enough progesterone in relation to estrogens, many unpleasant ailments appear (150 have been described). The most common ones are: irritability, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, breast pain, flatulence, constipation, sometimes diarrhea, migraine headaches, dizziness, and edema. Some women experience this type of ailments only a few days before menstruation, others even from the 15th day of the cycle, for the entire two weeks.
Problems may arise with every cycle or only occasionally.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) - how to help yourself
Stress, fatigue, nervousness exacerbate symptoms, so try to rest as much as possible, relax, sleep 8 hours a day. Have fun, read a book, watch a good movie. Exercise often helps - research shows that women who play sports have less PMS or have milder symptoms). Give up alcohol and cigarettes, limit the consumption of coffee and cola, do not eat bloating food (beans, cabbage) and hard to digest. But often reach for yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, which regulate the work of the digestive tract. Eat more vegetables and fruits and sprinkle your sandwiches with parsley or watercress (they have a diuretic effect,prevent swelling). It is also worth taking capsules with evening primrose oil and tablets with magnesium and vitamin B6. However, before reaching for any drug from the pharmacy, consult with your gynecologist. Depending on your symptoms, she will advise you on painkillers, diastolic medications, sedatives, and diuretics. He may also recommend tests to diagnose whether the cause of the ailments is really PMS (it can be determined on the basis of blood hormone tests, they must be performed on certain days of the cycle). If so, and symptomatic treatment is unsuccessful, your doctor recommends taking progestogens (orally or as suppositories) before your period.
ImportantHormonal calculator
ESTROGENY
- before ovulating 61-394 ng / ml
- ovulation 122-437 ng / ml
- after ovulating 156/350 ng / ml
PROGESTERON
- before ovulating 0.02-0.09 ng / ml
- after ovulation 6-30 ng / nl