How To Know If My Period Is Coming

Signs Your Period Is Coming

The body works in mysterious ways to alert you that your period is coming. We dive into some of the different signs so youre never caught off guard.

Even less fun than your actual period is the week or two of symptoms that many of us experience leading up to it. Premenstrual syndrome, which most of us know as PMS, is very common. In fact, nearly half of women experience PMS at some point in their lifetime. And while it looks different in everyone, PMS is thought to be caused by the same thing: fluctuating hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle.

The signs your period is coming arent the same for every person, and they can even change for an individual from month to month. For some, PMS symptoms are a minor annoyance, but for others, they can be debilitating.

Lets delve into some of the signs your period may be on its way and what to look out for so you dont get caught short without your menstrual product of choice.

How To Know When Your Next Period Is Coming

Firstly, you need to know your average cycle length. For this, check the first date when you get your periods.

Add up the number of days between the first day you get your periods and the day before you get your next period. Do this for a number of cycles.

Next, divide the sum total of days by the number of cycles. The result is your average cycle length. Now you can count when your next period is due by counting the average cycle length starting from the last day of your previous cycle.

Can You Feel Pregnant Before You Miss Your Period

Yes, you can feel pregnant before you miss your period. Some people say theyve felt pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception .

Could I have the symptoms of early pregnancy and not be pregnant?

Many of the symptoms of early pregnancy overlap with other medical conditions, as well as your typical menstrual cycle. Premenstrual symptoms can be very similar to pregnancy symptoms. This can make it difficult to tell the difference. You can also miss a period and not be pregnant. This can happen when you lose or gain a lot of weight or are stressed. Breastfeeding can also cause your period to stop.

The best way to know youre pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are available at your local pharmacy or grocery store without a prescription.

Read Also: What Can You Not Eat On Your Period

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:

• Women’s Health / Gynecology

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• Bai, G., et al. . Associations between nausea, vomiting, fatigue and health-related quality of life of women in early pregnancy: The generation R study.

When Should I Call My Doctor About A New Pregnancy

If youve missed your period and gotten a positive pregnancy test, your next step will be to call your healthcare provider for your first appointment. While scheduling, your provider may ask if you have already started taking a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid. Prenatal vitamins are important in early pregnancy because they help in the development of your babys neural tube. The neural tube will become your babys brain and spine. Many healthcare providers recommend that anyone who could become pregnant take folic acid at all times.

If youre planning a pregnancy, a preconception appointment with your healthcare provider is a good place to start. A preconception appointment is especially important if you take medication for a chronic illness or have other medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or lupus.

During this appointment, your provider will discuss any current medical conditions, as well as your general health before pregnancy. This appointment is meant to get you into the best place for a new pregnancy.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/26/2022.

References

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Also Check: How To Make My Period End Faster

How Does Ovulation Relate To Periods

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries. The same hormones that cause the uterus lining to build up also cause an egg to leave one of the ovaries. The egg travels through a thin tube called a fallopian tube to the uterus.

If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the wall of the uterus, where over time it develops into a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterus lining breaks down and bleeds, causing a period.

Is It Implantation Bleeding Or Your Period Heres How To Tell

What does implantation bleeding look like? Medical experts explain how to tell if your spotting is an early sign of pregnancy or your monthly menstrual cycle.

When a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, which usually happens 10 to 14 days after conception, it sometimes causes part of the uterine lining to shed. This results in implantation bleeding, which might be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. But heres the frustrating part: The blood thats released is nearly indistinguishable from normal spotting or breakthrough bleeding that can occur mid-cycleespecially in women who are on birth control pills or have polycystic ovary syndrome .

The only surefire way to tell the difference is taking a pregnancy test. Women are so anxious about knowing whether or not theyre pregnant, they want to have definitive signs to look for, but unfortunately only time will tell, says Anuja Vyas, M.D., FACOG, with Houston Methodist Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates.

That said, certain symptoms can offer hints that you could be experiencing implantation bleeding. Here, experts share what you need to know .

If you missed your period, answer these 4 questions:

If you answered yes to all questions, there is a high chance that you are pregnant. But only a positive pregnancy test will confirm your suspicion.

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What Causes Menstrual Period To Come Out

Period occurs due to cyclical change of your hormones during your menstrual cycle.

What is the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is the number of days between 2 periods. For example, if your last menstrual period started on the 27th of April and your next period starts on the 26th of May, then you have a 30-day menstrual cycle.

Some women may have an erratic menstrual cycle, short menstrual cycle or long menstrual cycle.

What causes period to come out?

At birth and during puberty, the ovaries contain a fixed number of follicles that are released in each cycle. Weeks before you are born, your body stops producing follicle that develops to release an egg.

It is estimated that throughout the lifetime of women, about 500 eggs are released from the ovaries. These release of the egg is called ovulation.

Before ovulation occurs, your body increases the secretion of estrogen. This hormone works to help grow the endometrium covering the inner part of the uterus.

If you get pregnant, you will have no period because the endometrium helps provide nutrition for your baby.

Now its your turn. Do you have a headache or pains before your period starts? Are your menstrual period symptoms affecting your daily activities?

How Does Secondary Dysmenorrhea Cause Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual pain from secondary dysmenorrhea is a result of problems with the reproductive organs. Conditions that can cause cramping include:

• Endometriosis: A condition in which the tissue lining the uterus is found outside of the uterus. Because these pieces of tissue bleed during your period, they can cause swelling, scarring and pain.
• Adenomyosis: A condition where the lining of the uterus grows into the muscle of the uterus. This condition can cause the uterus to get much bigger than it should be, along with abnormal bleeding and pain.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease : An infection caused by bacteria that starts in the uterus and can spread to other reproductive organs. PID can cause pain in the stomach or pain during sex.
• Cervical stenosis: Narrowing of the cervix, or the opening to the uterus.
• Fibroids : Growths on the inside, outside or in the walls of the uterus

Read Also: 90 Day Employee Probationary Period Template

Also Check: How To Stop Your Period When Your On It

Should I Watch For Any Problems

Most girls dont have any problems with their periods. But call your doctor if you:

• are 15 and havent started your period
• have had your period for more than 2 years and it still doesnt come regularly
• have bleeding between periods
• have severe cramps that dont get better with ibuprofen or naproxen
• have very heavy bleeding
• have periods that last more than about a week
• have severe PMS that gets in the way of your everyday activities

Pads And Panty Liners

Sanitary pads are rectangular pieces of absorbent material that you stick inside your underwear.

All pads have a sticky strip on the bottom. Thats what attaches the pad to your underwear.

Some have extra material on the sides, known as wings, that you fold over the edges of your underwear. This helps keep the pad in place.

Pads typically need to be changed every four to eight hours, but there isnt a set rule. Simply change it if the material feels sticky or wet.

They come in different sizes. Each size is made to accommodate a different level of bleeding.

Generally speaking, the smaller the pad, the less blood it can hold.

Youll probably use a more absorbent pad at the beginning of your period then switch to something lighter once the bleeding slows down.

You may also find it helpful to wear a heavier pad overnight so you dont have to worry about leakage.

Even the largest pads are still quite thin, so you shouldnt be able to see it through your clothes. If youre worried that people might be able to tell, stick to looser-fit bottoms.

Panty liners are smaller, thinner versions of a sanitary pad.

You may find it helpful to use them a couple of days before your period is supposed to start to prevent accidentally bleeding on your underwear.

You may also want to use panty liners toward the end of your period, as the bleeding may be spotty and unpredictable.

Read Also: Flo Period And Ovulation Tracker Free

Your Birth Control Warns You

If youre using Natural Cycles as birth control, youll get regular updates about the changes happening in your cycle, including when your period is due. NC° Birth Control has two parts: an app and a thermometer. The app learns the pattern of your cycle based on the readings from the basal body thermometer. Its possible to measure ovulation with temperature readings and thats how Natural Cycles can identify where you are in your cycle. So as well as learning the signs your period is coming through noticing changes in your body, youll get in-app updates too!

Did you know that if youre using hormonal birth control you dont really get periods? Instead, methods like the birth control pill often cause a certain type of spotting called a withdrawal bleed. Since you dont ovulate on hormonal birth control, this isnt technically a period, but rather a symptom of changing hormone levels.

When Should You Contact Your Healthcare Provider About Menstrual Cramps

Bad cramps keep some women from working and going to school. You dont have to suffer and you dont have to put your life on hold. Contact your healthcare provider if you have painful periods.

It may be helpful to keep track of your periods and the days on which pain is the worst so you can make a complete report. If you notice other symptoms, like headaches or heavy flows, you should keep track of those, too.

Your provider will probably ask you when you started getting your period, how long they last, if you are sexually active, if other women in your family have problems with their periods and what kinds of treatments you might have tried already.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Menstruation is normal. You might get cramps, but you dont have to suffer silently with them. There are ways to make painful periods less painful. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider about painful periods.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/20/2020.

References

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Your Period Forever

How Do I Choose A Pad Or Tampon That Is Right For Me

There are smaller, slender pads and tampons available that young women often prefer, particularly when they first start menstruating. You may find it helpful to use different products over the course of your period, with more absorbent tampons or pads being used on heavier flow days, and smaller tampons or pantiliners on low flow days. Each woman has her own preferences and whatever works best for your body is just fine!

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Before You Get Your First Period You Might Notice Changes In Your:

In the beginning, the small bumps around your nipples become raised. Then, the darker area of your nipples will get bigger and start to puff outâit might even feel like there is a little lump on your chest. These are called breast buds. This can happen on both sides at the same time, or on just one side at first. If it happens on one side, it can take up to 6 months for the other side to catch up .

Most people first get their first period 2â3 years after their breast begin to grow . If your breast buds start to grow around age eight or nine, it may take closer to three years for your period to start. If your breast buds develop later than most people in your class, like when youâre 13, it may take less than a year for your period to start .

The shape and height of your body will also be changing around this time. By the time you notice breast buds, your whole body will have already started growing more quickly .

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You’re Bloated Or Have Other Digestive Issues

Menstruation + The 3 Ovarian Phases

If pregnancy doesnt occur, the corpus luteum dissolves, and the endometrium destabilizes and sloughs off leading to period flow.. If fertilization and implantation do do occur, the menstrual cycle transitions into a pregnancy cycle and the endometrium does not need to shed ie. a missed period occurs.

Also Check: How Do You Know If Your On Your Period

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 its your first one. It depicts that your body is healthy and growing just fine. Though theres 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.