Breast Pain And Swelling
Do you experience increased pain in your breast before your period starts? Do you notice your breasts are slightly larger before your period?
Before period, some women may experience breast pain and swelling. This is a sign of period coming soon. Some women may have a lump in their breast that disappears after period starts.
Changes in the breast before your period is due to the effect of hormones. Hormones Estrogen and progesterone, will cause your ducts to enlarge and your glands to swell.
In women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, breast tenderness usually occurs 4 days before period .
What to do?
- Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can ease your breast pain
- If your breast pain is persistent, you should talk to your doctor
Similar Symptoms Of Period And Pregnancy
Before your period is coming, you may have tender or swollen breasts, you may experience headache, fatigue, constipation, acne. All these signs happen to be same or similar to those early pregnancy symptoms.
Table below shows the similar symptoms of the period and pregnancy.
Similar Symptoms of Pregnancy and Period
| Similar Signs |
What Do I Need To Do To Prepare For My First Period
There is nothing in particular you need to do to prepare for your first period, besides having feminine hygiene products and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen on hand. If you happen to get your period with no access to menstrual products, toilet paper will work in an emergency. If you get your first period at school, your teacher or school nurse will have a pantiliner or pad on hand.
There are a variety of menstrual products available to you:
Disposable pads
These absorbent pads have an adhesive backing that sticks to the inside of your underwear. They are available in different lengths and absorbencies, and some have adhesive wings that wrap around the sides of your underwear. Disposable pads should be changed every 4-6 hours and are thrown out after a single use.
Pantiliners
These are small, thin, disposable absorbent pads that can be used on their own on days of light flow. They can also be used in combination with a tampon, in case of leaks or discharge.
Reusable pads
These are usually made of cotton, bamboo, or other natural absorbent fibres, and are often available at health food stores. They can be washed with detergent and reused. Some have velcro tabs to secure them around your underwear.
Tampons
Menstrual cup
Recommended Reading: Usaa New Car Grace Period
Youre Crying At Cat Videos
This is the big one: premenstrual syndrome, or PMS for short. Normally you experience PMS one or two weeks before your period begins so this is a sign that your period is right around the corner! Recognizing the symptoms of PMS can be a bit tricky some people dont get it at all, other people really do.
You may experience some of the following symptoms: acne, tender breasts, tiredness, bloating, an upset tummy, or strange food cravings, not to mention you may feel super emotional. Even period veterans sometimes get their periods, then look back on the past week and think oh, thats why I was crying over that cat video two days ago! Pesky hormones can catch us all by surprise, so dont worry if you dont recognize the symptoms straight away.
Mood swings happen throughout puberty, so knowing if its just a mood swing or your period knocking on the door can be pretty tricky!
Though its easier said than done, try not to compare yourself to your friends. Your period will come when your body is ready if you hit 16 and you still have no sign of it, go and speak to a doctor, they will be able to run tests and give you some clear answers.
A big step towards handling your first period smoothly is being prepared.
Carry a spare pair of undies in your bag and a panty liner, just in case you get your period when youre not at home. Do a bit of research into some of the period protection products out there. You can try out everything to find out what works best for you and your body.
A Brief Overview Of The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle includes three different uterine phases that occur at the same time as three different ovarian phases. Its not always obvious which phase you’re in, with the exception of the menstruation phase .
Your menstrual cycle is sometimes referred to as your monthly cycle. The most commonly referenced menstrual cycle is 28 days. However, the normal range for many adult women of reproductive age is 2135 days. During this time, your body prepares for the possibility of fertilization and pregnancy. Your period is a sign that pregnancy did not occur.
Many also experience irregular menstrual cycles, which can be caused by a variety of different factors. Tracking the menstrual cycle can be a helpful way to understand the characteristics of your period, i.e., how often it comes, how long it lasts, and what it is associated with, as well as d efficiently detecting any persistent abnormalities or deviations from your normal.
Don’t Miss: New Hire 90 Day-probationary Period Template
Who Is This Quiz For
The quiz is designed for girls aged over the age of 8 years who have not yet started their periods, but who have started to show some signs of puberty. It consists of seven simple questions relating to changes in your body that might indicate your period is on its way.
Each time you select an answer you will be given some information about the symptoms you are experiencing and what they might mean and, at the end, your result will give you an indication of whether your first period might be on its way.
Quiz: When will I get my first period?
Does Your Period Come Each Month Top
Menstrual cycles take place over about one month , but each womans cycle is different. Many women have a cycle that lasts 28 days. Some women may have cycles as long as 45 days.
The cycle includes not just your period, but the rise and fall of hormones and other body changes that take place over the month. To see what happens on each day of your menstrual cycle .
Keep in mind that your periods may not be regular at first. You may have two in one month, or have a month without a period at all. Also, at first your period may last just a couple of days in some months and up to a week in other months. Periods will become more regular in time.
To learn about your own pattern, it’s a good idea to keep track of your periods on a calendar or app. Keeping track lets you:
- Get a sense of when to expect your next period
- Know if you missed a period
- Have a record of your period schedule and when your last one came to share with your or other health care provider
When you chart your cycle, remember that it starts with the first day of one period and goes until the first day of the next period.
Content last reviewed April 15, 2014Page last updated August 27, 2018
You May Like: 90 Day Employee Probationary Period Template
What Your Period Is Trying To Tell You About Your Health
When we talk about menstruation in our culture, we tend to focus on all the ways it can be seriously unpleasant and gross, with lots of attention paid to the emotional effects of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS , and almost none to whats actually happening in your body every month. Board-certified reproductive acupuncturist Kirsten Karchmer, founder of Viv Wellness, believes that for most women, PMS is a critical tool in deciphering overall healthand it doesnt have to come with every period, or at all, if you pay attention and learn to pull the right levers. Ive been working with women in my clinics for almost twenty years, and while a lot of them come in with PMS and cramping, by the time theyre done with treatment, a significant majority are symptom-free, she says.Below, Karchmers take on period health, and her advice on how to gain controlplus, our round-up of items to make periods a little more comfortable, including 100 percent organic tampons delivered straight to your door.
Are There Any Treatments For Pms
Yes. PMS can be treated. After your doctor knows about your symptoms, he or she can suggest ways to treat them. A combination of treatments usually helps.
Your doctor may suggest changes in your diet, with less caffeine, salt and sugar. A healthy diet may help you feel better. Taking vitamins and minerals may help. Regular exercise may also help your symptoms. If your symptoms are very bad, your doctor may prescribe medicine for you.
Learning how to cope with problems that come up in your life may help relieve the stress and irritability you feel before your period. The more you understand your PMS symptoms and how they affect your life, the better you’ll be at dealing with the things that make your symptoms worse.
Be sure to talk with your doctor before treating yourself for PMS. If you’ve read about some nutritional supplement for PMS, talk with your doctor before you start taking it. Together, you and your doctor can decide what’s safe and what might work.
Read the full article.
- Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere.
- Choose a single article, issue, or full-access subscription.
- Earn up to 6 CME credits per issue.
Read Also: Can You Donate Blood While Menstruating
When Will I Get My First Period
Find out if you’re displaying the common signs of starting your period.
Can’t see the quiz?
As they approach their teenage years, most girls start to wonder when their periods might start. Some look forward to this moment as a sign that they are really growing up. Others are a little nervous about how they will feel, or how they might manage their period. Either way, it can be good to know whether you are likely to get your period soon.
With periods usually starting between the ages of 10-16 years, it can be hard to predict when your first period will arrive. However, your body will probably start to show some tell-tale signs when your first period is on its way. “Puberty has a predictable pattern,” explains GP Dr Jeff Foster. “Understanding the significance of different signs such as breast development, vaginal discharge, pubic hair and underarm hair can give us an indication about whether a first period is likely to occur soon.”
The Science Behind Symptoms
Pregnant or not, your body starts releasing progesterone after you ovulate. This hormone keeps getting released and is at its highest point around five to seven days after ovulation. If a woman is pregnant, her body continues to produce progesterone in high amounts to help sustain the pregnancy. If shes not pregnant, her progesterone levels decrease, and shell start her menstrual period.
Thanks also to progesterone, the symptoms of early pregnancy and your period are nearly identical. Cramps, fatigue, dizziness, breast tenderness all early signs of pregnancy, but also possible signs of your period coming.
What about light spotting a week after ovulation? It could indicate implantation bleeding, but most women dont experience this symptom and spotting can happen for other reasons.
What about nausea? This symptom is typically attributed to hCG, the pregnancy hormone, but it can be caused by other things, too .
In the weeks between ovulation and a pregnancy test, many women symptom spot that is, they take note of certain physical symptoms and think that they are definitely signs of early pregnancy. Is symptom spotting so wrong? Absolutely not, and it can even be kind of fun, as long as you know that only a blood test can tell you for sure if youre pregnant.
Recommended Reading: Usaa Grace Period Auto Insurance New Car
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
Recognizing Signs Of Puberty
Recommended Reading: 90 Day Probationary Period Form
Is It Implantation Bleeding Or Period Spotting
Some experts claim spotting that starts off brown or wine-colored and becomes a brighter red is most likely the start of your period. But George Patounakis, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, a fertility specialist in Florida, says Googling pictures won’t help if you’re wondering what implantation bleeding looks like. “There’s no way to tell the difference between intermenstrual bleeding and implantation bleeding just by looking,” he says.
If you want to determine whether you have implantation bleeding or your period, you should pay attention to the following three symptoms instead.
Wondering What To Do When Your Period Isnt Coming Start Here
Light, irregular or missing periods are classic signs that you may not be ovulating. If your period isnt coming and you are a young, active woman with no baby plans on the horizon, you might be thinking, Why should I care?
Let me tell you ovulation is important for every woman. It is part of any healthy hormonal cycle, a key measure of a womans overall health, and a symbol of our vitality and creativity. Plus, the symptoms we get when we dont ovulate are no fun.
If youre experiencing infertility you might be all too aware that you are not ovulating, but the best way to keep tabs is to track your ovulation signs.
There are 5 ways to track your ovulation signs, including tracking your hormonal symptoms. A great way to do this is with the MyFLO app, which makes it easy and educational.
Think of your hormonal cycle as a chain reactionif one stage does not occur properly, the following stages will not receive the correct triggers. When your ovary releases an egg, the ruptured egg sack produces progesterone. The increase of progesterone in your body encourages the build up and eventual release of the lining of your uterus .
Without proper ovulation, low or no progesterone is produced. Communication between your ovaries, uterus, and pituitary gland goes awry.
If none of these apply to you, both you and your doctor might be baffled as to whats happening and exactly why your period is missing.
It can happen for you, too.
Don’t Miss: Get Period Blood Out Of Underwear