Do you feel unwell or unhappy, or do you experience pain in the days leading up to your period? And are your symptoms so severe that you cannot function normally? There is a good chance you are dealing with premenstrual syndrome, better known as PMS. What exactly is PMS and what symptoms are associated with it? And more importantly, what can you do to alleviate the physical and emotional challenges it brings? In this article, we will explore this in more depth.
Contents
What is PMS?
PMS is a collective term for the symptoms that can occur before you menstruate. If you have PMS, your symptoms return every month in the days leading up to your period. The exact symptoms you experience vary from woman to woman, but they can include both physical and emotional symptoms. For example, you may feel unhappier and more emotionally unstable than usual. You may also experience breast pain or bloating in your abdomen.
PMS symptoms can be so severe that they interfere with your daily life. You may not function or may function less effectively in the days before your period begins. A characteristic feature is that the symptoms disappear as soon as you start menstruating.
PMS symptoms and signs
Although symptoms can vary from woman to woman, you may recognize the following symptoms of PMS:
Emotional PMS symptoms:
- Irritability;
- Being more easily upset;
- Mood swings;
- Feeling tired and listless;
- Depressive symptoms or anxiety.
Physical PMS symptoms:
- Bloating in your abdomen;
- Breast pain;
- Joint pain and muscle pain;
- Water retention in your hands and feet.
A typical feature of PMS is the timing of the symptoms, namely before your period. Pain or symptoms during menstruation are not part of PMS, but are separate from it.
What causes PMS?
The cause of PMS is not yet fully understood, but it is probably related to your sensitivity to the hormone progesterone. PMS symptoms occur after ovulation and before menstruation. During this period, your body produces the hormone progesterone. Women with PMS do not necessarily produce more of this hormone, but they are more sensitive to it [1]. A bloated abdomen, water retention, and painful, tender breasts can be a result of this.
We also know that genetic factors are involved. PMS is more common in some families than in others. In addition, it is more common in older women than in younger women, especially after having children. Symptoms may also increase as you get older. An estimated 4 to 5% of women between the ages of 15 and 45 suffer from PMS [1,2].
What can you do about PMS?
Lifestyle choices can affect your PMS symptoms. This means that you can often achieve a lot by making adjustments to your lifestyle.
- Keep your cycle in mind: If you have PMS and a fairly regular cycle, you will know roughly which days your symptoms occur. Keep this in mind, for example by putting it in your calendar and not filling those days too much, or even leaving them completely empty. This allows you to give yourself the rest and space you need and avoid setting yourself expectations that are too high about what you have to do in the period before your period.
- Exercise enough: Staying active can make you feel better. Therefore, try to exercise a few times a week.
- Eat healthily: Eating healthily can also help with PMS symptoms. Eat less sugar and avoid products containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and cola. Also avoid alcohol.
- Relaxation exercises: Because stress has a negative effect on PMS symptoms, it is a good idea to do relaxation exercises. Meditation or breathing exercises can help you relax more and reduce stress.
- Herbal supplements: Some herbs, such as Vitex Agnus Castus, are used as a natural remedy for discomfort around menstruation*.
Support with supplements
In addition to a healthy lifestyle, you can choose extra support with supplements.
Due to legislation regarding health claims, we cannot provide detailed information about the ingredients in the OvaBalance supplements. In accordance with the legislation, we keep information about supplementation separate from the promotion of our products. If anything is unclear and you have a question, please feel free to contact us.
Sources:
[1] https://www.degynaecoloog.nl/onderwerpen/premenstrueel-syndroom-pms/#wat-zijn-de-oorzaken-van-pms
[2] https://www.maasstadziekenhuis.nl/media/4644/02079-nl-premenstrueel-syndroom-pms.pdf
