A little before the expected date of menstruation, many women feel heavy, have sore breasts, and feel irritated and depressed. This is a premenstrual syndrome that many women experience during the period called the luteal phase, when progesterone secretion surges after ovulation. Symptoms do not start suddenly one day for no reason, but they come at a fixed time along the secretion cycle of female hormones, so it is a good idea to be mentally prepared.
Find out in this article
- When do PMS symptoms start?
- Is there an age at which PMS symptoms are most likely to occur?
- Is there a way to relieve PMS symptoms?
- Are there any illnesses that are easily mistaken for PMS symptoms?
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When do PMS symptoms appear?
PMS symptoms generally appear 3 to 10 days before menstruation. In the hormone secretion cycle, it occurs during the high-temperature phase called the luteal phase after ovulation. There are individual differences, and some people start right after ovulation. The symptoms tend to be lighter when menstruation begins, and generally disappear around the third day of menstruation. Menstrual symptoms such as irritability and depression before menstruation, and general PMS symptoms such as drowsiness, breast enlargement, abdominal pain, and headache are said to be common. There are individual differences in the timing of symptoms disappearing, and some people continue until the end of menstruation.
Ages prone to PMS
About 90% of women experience PMS at least once. Many women in their teens to around 50 suffer from PMS, but it seems that there are many reports that symptoms are most likely to occur in the late 20s to 30s.
It is said that people in their 30s are most likely to experience severe symptoms. In addition, it is said that people in their 20s tend to experience physical problems such as breast enlargement, abdominal pain, and headaches, while people in their 30s tend to experience more mental problems such as irritability and depression. I'm here. However, there seems to be a large individual difference, and there are various people, such as those who have strong physical disorders and those who have many mental disorders.
How to relieve PMS symptoms?
Many people experience PMS every month because it is a symptom that accompanies the monthly hormone secretion cycle .
1) Be aware of your diet
If your blood sugar level drops, your appetite may increase sharply and your irritability may get worse. Try to avoid stimulants such as coffee and spicy foods containing caffeine as much as possible, and take plenty of calcium and magnesium. 1)2)3)
2) Do light exercise
When the symptoms of PMS are mild, exercising can help you feel better, and it can also speed up your metabolism and reduce PMS. I recommend moderate exercise.
Symptoms that can be mistaken for PMS
Be aware that there are other diseases with symptoms similar to PMS, such as:
Dysmenorrhea: A condition characterized by severe abdominal pain, back pain, and headaches. It is similar to PMS symptoms because it improves spontaneously within a few days after the onset of menstruation. Diseases such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids may be the cause, so if the symptoms are severe, let's see a doctor.
PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder): Among the symptoms of PMS, it refers to cases where the mental symptoms are extremely severe. Symptoms such as being unable to go out or being able to socialize are seen to the extent that they interfere with daily life. In this case, it is necessary to see a doctor because treatment with drugs is necessary.
Menopausal disorder: A disease that occurs before and after menopause, and is caused by a decline in the function of the ovaries and a rapid decrease in the secretion of the female hormone estrogen. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of PMS, and in the case of menopause, rather than starting around a week before menstruation, you will feel various mental and physical discomforts on a daily basis.
Depression: People may believe that mental instability is part of their PMS symptoms. Depression often leads to mental instability regardless of the menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy: Symptoms similar to PMS are common in early pregnancy. If the symptoms persist and menstruation does not come, there is a possibility that you are pregnant, so you should take a test.
Also read the following articles
If PMS persists, is it possible that you have dysmenorrhea?
summary
PMS, which 90% of women experience, varies from person to person, but the severity and symptoms that appear vary with age and lifestyle changes. Knowing in advance when symptoms appear, the types of symptoms, and how to alleviate them will make it easier to deal with them. Also, people tend to put up with PMS, thinking it's okay, but if painful symptoms that interfere with daily life continue, another disease may be lurking, so it's recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible.
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References
1) Pinar G, et al. Premenstrual Syndrome in Turkish college students and its effects on life quality. 2011 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21147455/
2) Bertone-Johnson ER, et al. Calcium and vitamin D intake and risk of incident premenstrual syndrome. 2005 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaininternalmedicine/fullarticle/486599
3) Nahid Fathizadeh et al. Evaluating the effect of magnesium and magnesium plus vitamin B6 supplement on the severity of premenstrual syndrome. 2010 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208934/
