Premenstrual syndrome: pms symptoms and signs

As if the annoyance of a menstrual cycle wasn’t enough, you have to have premenstrual symptoms (PMS) thrown in for good measure. Some blessed women hardly bat an eye when their “time of the month” comes moseying along. Meanwhile there are the less fortunate women who become practically incapacitated when having their period due to intense cramping and/or severe headaches. Most women experience some form of PMS, whether mild or severe at some time in their life. Some of these symptoms rear their ugly heads every month without fail while some come and go as they please from cycle to cycle. Naturally, not every woman experiences the same PMS symptoms, but here are the more common ones.

* Mood changes: This is probably the most common PMS symptom and often the most talked about, especially by the men who live with or are close to the women who suffer from it. This symptom can make the most patient woman feel irritable at every corner. The usual mood changes include irritability, anxiety, depression and anger.

* Hair and skin changes: You would think the mood swings would be enough, but add to that the onset of oily skin, greasy hair and facial and back acne. Many women experience these different skin and hair changes right before their period begins.

* Cramping: Immediately before and during the first few days of a period, women experience mild to severe cramping. Cramping is caused by the uterine wall contracting as it begins to shed the inner lining of the uterus. Some women experience only a dull sensation while others experience cramping so severe, they are forced to miss work or school.

* Headaches: A classic symptom of PMS is the headache, which can be anywhere between a mild discomforting ache to a full-blown migraine.

* Tender breasts: During a menstrual cycle, a woman’s hormones affect her breast tissue, so many women experience tenderness in the breasts right before and, often, during their periods.

* Food cravings: Just as many women would experience this during pregnancy, several women complain that they have various food cravings before their period ranging anywhere from sweets like chocolate and candy to sour foods like pickles and lemons.

* Bloating: For some women, gassiness and bloating are very common right before they get their periods. Other women also experience a small weight gain.

* Insomnia: Some women complain that they have a difficult time getting to sleep at night.

* Fatigue: It is not uncommon for a woman to experience fatigue or lethargy right before their period. Women who experience these symptoms often find themselves taking frequent naps, sleeping in, or finding it difficult to wake up at their normal time.

* Sex drive changes: As the hormones fluctuate, so does the sex drive right before a period. While some women experience irritability and do not wish to be touched before their menses, others find that their sex drive peaks right around this time.

* Dizziness: Experiencing a symptom like vertigo is often a sign of PMS, although if your vertigo is extreme, consult your physician.

* Clumsiness: Some women notice they get clumsy before their cycle. This ranges anywhere from dropping things or knocking things over to falling down.

If any of the above symptoms last for longer than a week, or if your symptoms are extreme and PMS medication does not seem to help, consult your physician immediately.