How Can You Tell When Your Period Is Coming

Youve Lost Or Gained Weight

Severe changes in body weight can screw with your periods timing. Extreme increases or decreases in body fat, for example, can lead to a hormonal imbalance that causes your period to come late or stop entirely.

In addition, severe calorie restriction affects the part of your brain that talks to your endocrine system and gives instructions for the creation of reproductive hormones. When this communication channel is disrupted, hormones can get out of whack.

How Does Pms Affect Other Health Problems

About half of women who need relief from PMS also have another health problem, which may get worse in the time before their menstrual period.12 These health problems share many symptoms with PMS and include:

• Depression and anxiety disorders.These are the most common conditions that overlap with PMS. Depression and anxiety symptoms are similar to PMS and may get worse before or during your period.
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome . Some women report that their symptoms often get worse right before their period. Research shows that women with ME/CFS may also be more likely to have heavy menstrual bleeding and early or premature menopause.14
• Irritable bowel syndrome . IBS causes cramping, bloating, and gas. Your IBS symptoms may get worse right before your period.
• Bladder pain syndrome. Women with bladder pain syndrome are more likely to have painful cramps during PMS.

PMS may also worsen some health problems, such as asthma, allergies, and migraines.

Should I Use A Pad Tampon Or Menstrual Cup

There are a few ways to deal with period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.

• Most girls use a pad when they first get their period. Pads are made of cotton and come in lots of different sizes and shapes. They have sticky strips that attach to the underwear.
• Many girls prefer to use tampons instead of pads, especially when playing sports or swimming. A tampon is a cotton plug that a girl puts into her vagina. Most tampons come with an applicator that guides the tampon into place. The tampon absorbs the blood. Don’t leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours because this can increase your risk of a serious infection called toxic shock syndrome.
• Some girls prefer a menstrual cup. To use a menstrual cup, a girl inserts it into her vagina. The cup holds the blood until she empties it.

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Other Early Signs Of Pregnancy

These early pregnancy symptoms tend to appear around or after the time that you miss your period, usually sometime between weeks 4 and 9. But again, every woman and every pregnancy is different, so you may not experience these symptoms at all, while other moms-to-be may notice them a little earlier.

Causes Of Period Pain

During your period, the uterus contracts to help the lining shed. This contraction compresses the blood vessels in the lining, temporarily cutting off the blood and oxygen supply to your uterus. The lack of oxygen in the tissues of your uterus causes chemicals to be released that can trigger pain.

The body also releases prostaglandins, chemicals which encourage the uterus muscles to contract even more, which can also cause pain.

Its possible that some women feel more pain than others due to a build-up of prostaglandins, which make the contractions stronger.

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Do You Get Really Dry Before Your Period

Numerous ladies experience a dry vagina before their period. While this manifestation is apparently less talked about than period cramps, dryness is as yet a genuine concern.

Vaginal dryness can be due to a number of factors. However, changes in estrogen levels can be the main hormone that contributes to it.

In cases like this, it is strongly advised to seek a trusted expert to rule out other diagnoses.

Spotting Vs Periods: Whats The Difference

A menstrual cycle can last anywhere from 15 to 45 days, according to research, during which a woman usually has her period for anywhere between three to seven days.

However, there can be times during a womans cycle where she experiences bleeding that isnt quite a period. It can happen at any time right before you get your period, mid-cycle or even after period bleeding. We call this spotting, and if you arent sure of the difference between this occurrence and your actual period, heres what you need to know.

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Causes Of Menstrual Diarrhea And Constipation

Like many of the other symptoms of periods, hormones are a likely the culprit here. The build-up of the hormone progesteronewhich is responsible for thickening the uterus liningcan cause constipation in some women.

The increase in prostaglandinsthe hormones which cause the muscle contractions that help the uterus lining shedaround your period, on the other hand, could cause diarrhea.

When prostaglandin levels are high, some of the hormone may enter the blood stream and travel to other organs like the bowels. High levels of prostaglandin in the bowels can cause contractions of the muscles of the intestines or colon, leading to diarrhea.

If these gastrointestinal issues persist, talk to your doctor to diagnose or rule out other possible causes.

Your Lower Back Hurts

Aside from cramps, you are likely to be familiar with lower back pain days prior to your period. It can sometimes be severe enough to interfere with your work or daily activities.

Research shows that approximately 1 in every 3 women experience lower back pain as part of PMS .

The cause might be traced to elevated estrogen and progesterone levels around your ovulation time. These hormones increase blood flow to the pelvic region and reduce circulation in the lumbar arteries. That leads to insufficient oxygen supply in this area, which results in muscle stiffness and pain.

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When Will I Get My First Period Quiz

Are you constantly thinking about your first period? This “When will I get my first-period quiz” is here for you. A period is a natural phenomenon. It can be a little scary, though, if it’s your first one. It depicts that your body is healthy and growing just fine. Though there’s a lot of emotional triggers during each phase, the mood swings quickly. Take this quiz to know how far you are from your first period.

Health Conditions That Can Make Acne Around Menstruation Worse

Acne can also be a symptom of . Consider talking to your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms in addition to acne:

• irregular or no periods
• excessive hair growth on the face, chest, back or rear
• weight gain
• hair loss or thinning hair
• struggling to conceive if you are trying to get pregnant.

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How Do I Use A Tampon

Inserting a tampon for the first time can be a bit of a challenge. Its hard to know exactly how to position your body and at what angle to put the tampon in. After a few tries, you will figure out what works best for you. Its best to use slender size tampons when you are learning. If you arent exactly sure where your vaginal opening is, use a mirror to have a look at your vulva .

To insert a tampon that has an applicator:

To insert a tampon without an applicator:

When To Contact A Doctor

Although it is normal for periods to be somewhat irregular to begin with, it is a good idea to talk with a doctor if they do not settle into a regular rhythm or if they cause symptoms that disrupt daily life.

The frequency and heaviness of periods, and any symptoms that accompany them, can be an important indicator of a females health.

It is a good idea for a person to talk with a doctor if they or a young female in their care experiences:

• a heavy flow that requires pad or tampon changes every 12 hours
• severe pain or mood changes that prevent normal activities
• no periods for 3 months or longer after the first period
• periods that occur sooner than 21 days apart or longer than 35 days apart
• periods that last for 7 days or longer
• no period by the age of 15 years old

Emergency medical help is necessary if someone develops any symptoms of TSS, which

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Your Discharge Has Dried Up

Another sign your period is coming is discharge, or rather a lack of it. Cervical mucus is a type of vaginal discharge that changes in amount and consistency throughout the menstrual cycle. When were most fertile, cervical mucus is sometimes visible in our underwear or when we wipe after using the toilet. Since were not fertile in the days directly before we get our period, there should be very little or no discharge to see.

Even after your period has ended, it will likely be a few days before discharge is visible. You can look out for the changes in your cervical mucus throughout your cycle as it varies in amount and consistency as you approach your fertile window.

Changes In Your Periods

Your periods can change for example, they may last longer or get lighter. This does not necessarily mean there’s a problem, but it does need to be investigated.

You can see your GP, or visit your nearest women’s clinic or contraceptive clinic.

Bleeding between periods, bleeding after having sex, or bleeding after the menopause needs to be checked by a doctor.

It might be caused by an infection, abnormalities in the neck of the womb or, in rare cases, it could be cancer.

You could be pregnant if you miss a period and you’ve had sex. See your GP if you’ve taken a pregnancy test and the result is negative and you’ve missed 3 consecutive periods.

They will investigate the cause and recommend any necessary treatment.

Read more about stopped or missed periods.

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How Many Days Late Can A Period Be Before Worrying About Pregnancy

Everyones cycle is different. Healthy cycles can range in length from 21 to 35 days, and how long a cycle lasts can vary from cycle to cycle. Unless you have irregular cycles due to a medical condition, you probably have at least a rough idea of when to expect your next period.

A period is considered late if it hasnt started within seven days of when you expect it. Most pregnancy tests will be able to give you accurate results by the time your period is late. If you get a negative pregnancy test after missing a period, and your period is more than a week late, you may want to see your health care provider to figure out whats going on.

If you get a negative pregnancy test result, still havent gotten your period, and start to experience early pregnancy symptoms, consider taking another test. Sometimes, home pregnancy tests can give a false-negative result if its taken too early in the pregnancy to detect human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. In these cases, it can take a bit longer to know youre pregnant after a late period. The earliest hCG detection can be done with an hCG serum test performed by a doctor as early as 8 to 10 days after ovulation.

When To Speak With A Doctor

People may wish to see a healthcare professional if they have PMS symptoms that affect their daily life, if the symptoms occur outside of their period, or if they experience any sudden or dramatic changes to PMS or period symptoms.

If a person expects to have a period, but it does not arrive, it is best to speak with a healthcare professional about the potential causes. They may recommend a pregnancy test if someone could be pregnant or other tests if pregnancy is not the cause.

Heavy bleeding and severe abdominal cramping can indicate pregnancy complications, such as pregnancy loss or ectopic pregnancy. Contact a provider immediately if a pregnant person experiences any of the following symptoms:

• heavy bleeding

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General Overview Of The Menstrual Cycle:

The menstrual cycle includes several phases. The exact timing of the phases of the cycle is a little bit different for every woman and can change over time.