Period Symptoms And Pain
When your childs period is coming, they might have a range of physical symptoms, including sore breasts, pimples and greasy hair. Your child might also have a sore tummy, feel sick or have diarrhoea.
Period pain and these associated symptoms are common. If your child gets a sore tummy, back or legs before or during their period, your child could try:
- taking pain medication
- putting a hot water bottle on their lower stomach
- walking or other light exercise
- eating smaller meals more often
- resting and relaxing, particularly with their legs elevated, or lying on one side with knees bent
- lightly massaging the lower stomach
- having warm drinks like hot milk or herbal tea.
Very painful periods are common, as are symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. But if your child has period pain that disrupts everyday activities, they should see their GP. Hormone treatments that regulate periods or even turn them off for a while are safe and very effective.
Of The Reproductive Journey
We usually diagnose menopause in hindsight, after that full year of absent periods. Ive found that most women know theyve reached menopause when they get there.
Even if your irregular periods turn out to be something else, youll face menopause eventually. Talk with your ob-gyn about what youre experiencing. Together we can work through this part of your health journey.
The views expressed in this article are those of Dr. Eisenberg and do not reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.
Copyright 2021 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information.
This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women’s health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOGs complete disclaimer.
Dr. Esther Eisenberg
Six Weird Little Signs That Your Period Is About To Start
There are lots of little things which will give you the heads up about that time of the month
For most women there is one thing that tells them it’s almost that time of the month – stomach cramps.
Those horrible pains can last for days and apart from some painkillers and a hot water bottle, there isn’t much we can do about them
But it turns out cramps aren’t the only tell-tale sign your period is about to start.
There are actually six other things you can look out for, reports RSVP Live.
Some of them make a lot of sense, but others are slightly more unexpected.
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You Experience Mood Swings
When you are about to get your period, it is quite normal that you feel distracted. You may experience mood swings for example when you are happy one minute and then suddenly sad the next.
This moodiness is one of the emotional symptoms that your period is coming.
The scientific reason behind mood swings before your period is that the level of estrogen in the body drops just before your menstrual cycle begins. This hormonal changes can lead to shifts in energy levels and sleep patterns.
However, if you notice that the mood swings start to interfere with your daily functioning then it might be best to consult a healthcare professional as this can be a sign of PMDD
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.
However, if youre not pregnant, the endometrium breaks down coming out from your vagina as period.
Now its your turn. Do you have a headache or pains before your period starts? Are your menstrual period symptoms affecting your daily activities?
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Understanding The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is the process by which your body prepares an egg for fertilization, and also the period in time when your body removes the egg to prepare for the next egg. This is sometimes called a “monthly cycle,” and while 28 days is an average menstrual cycle length, it can range from about 24 days to 34 days.
Menstrual Cycle Timeline
- Day 1: Your menstrual cycle begins with the start of your period. The tissue lining around your uterus breaks down and an unfertilized egg begins to leave through your vagina along with blood. The bleeding of a period usually lasts 4-8 days, averaging 5 days for US women.
- Day 5: Your estrogen levels rise once bleeding has stopped, and this does several things. These include:
- The lining of your uterus thickens, preparing it for a new egg.
- Ovarian sacs that contain eggs grow and mature, preparing one for ovulation.
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.
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Abdominal Bloating Gas And Pain
Do you feel your abdomen is swelling up just before period?
Abdomen bloating is swelling and tightening experienced by women which could occur for many reasons. If you are expecting your period, a hard, distended and tight abdomen may indicate your period will start soon.
Other causes of bloating are pregnancy, anorexia nervosa , ovarian cyst and hormone imbalance.
What to do?
- Take more fiber diet like vegetables and fruits
- Drink plenty of water every day
- Avoid meals that contain beans and cabbage
When Do Periods Start
Most young people will have their first periods when theyre between 11 and 14½, but anywhere from 9-16 years is considered normal.
Periods are likely to start soon if your child has:
- had a major growth spurt
- grown some underarm and pubic hair
- developed breasts.
If your child hasnt started their period by the time they turn 16, its a good idea to talk with your childs GP. There can be many reasons why periods havent started by then, and the GP can help to rule out any serious problems.
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How To Know When Your Period Is Coming
This article was co-authored by Rebecca Levy-Gantt, MPT, DO. Dr. Rebecca Levy-Gantt is a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist running a private practice based in Napa, California. Dr. Levy-Gantt specializes in menopause, peri-menopause and hormonal management, including bio-Identical and compounded hormone treatments and alternative treatments. She is also a Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner and is on the national listing of physicians who specialize in menopausal management. She received a Masters of Physical Therapy from Boston University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 24 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 2,430,141 times.
Having your period is nuisance enough without the added stress of a surprise visit. While there’s no scientific method of determining exactly when your period will come, these methods below will help you estimate your menstrual cycle length and help you be prepared for the next one. Carrying pads or tampons around in your purse at all times is a simple but effective strategy to never be caught off-guard.
How Do I Prepare For My First Period
There is no way to make your first period come any quicker, but you can prepare for when it does! If youve experienced some of the above signs, your period may soon start, so you may want to keep some towels in your school bag and a spare pair of knickers close just in case. It is absolutely normal to be caught off guard and leak, whether its your first period or your hundredth! Theres no need to be embarrassed as it happens to us all!
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My Periods Have Changed Is Menopause Around The Corner
An ob-gyn explains the course of perimenopause.
Its a common scene in any ob-gyn practice: A patient comes in, concerned that her periods have changed. Whats going on? she asks. Is this menopause?
If youre a woman in your 40s, a change in your menstrual periods is the hallmark of perimenopause thats what we call the years leading up to your last menstrual period.
Heres a look at how we diagnose perimenopause and menopause, and what else to expect as you enter this phase of life.
You Have Abdominal Cramps
We all know that period cramps can be excruciatingly painful, and weve probably all had days where we wish we could just lay in bed curled up in a ball because of them.
But it turns out that your abdominal cramps are actually one of the signs that your period is about to start. Cramps that happen before or during your period are called primary dysmenorrhea.
Menstrual cramps usually occur in your lower abdomen. Theyre caused by prostaglandins, which contract and dilate muscles in your uterus. Its the same thing that happens when you have a stomach ache or diarrhea.
This also explains why women tend to feel sick before their periods, and may even vomit due to the fact that the uterus contracts and pushes up everything in the stomach, including the stomach acids.
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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.
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:
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Your Mood Keeps Changing
While the main female sex hormone estrogen can make us feel pretty good roundabout ovulation, towards the end of your cycle, estrogen levels have dropped off and instead progesterone levels can give us bouts of feeling low or irritable. If youve noticed changes to your mood it might be because menstruation is right around the corner.
While its normal to experience some mood changes as a part of PMS , if it starts to interfere with your everyday life it may be a sign of PMDD . This is a severe form of PMS and you should consult with a healthcare professional if you think you might be experiencing PMDD as there are ways you can reduce the condition and symptoms.