Symptoms That You Are About to Start Your Period

Contributor

By Brandi
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(0 Ratings)

There are a variety of signs that women are about to start their periods, and these are commonly referred to as premenstrual syndrome symptoms, or PMS. According to WebMD.com, about 85 percent of all women experience these symptoms at some point in their lives. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate. However, for some women, these symptoms before their period can be severe. In general, women tend to experience the same types of signs that they are about to start their menstrual cycles.

Pre-Menstrual Symptoms

More than 150 symptoms can come with starting your period, according to WebMD.com. However, a few symptoms are more common than others, including painful cramping, acne, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating and food cravings, particularly for sweet and salty foods. A woman also tends to experience fatigue, headaches, cramps in the lower back, aggression, irritability and depression as her period approaches as well.

Age Range for PMS Symptoms

Certain groups of women are more likely to experience symptoms that they are about to start their period than others. According to everydayhealth.com, women who are in their late 20s through early 40s, have children or have a family history of mood disorders or postpartum depression are more likely to experience symptoms of PMS.

When Do These Symptoms Occur?

Premenstrual symptoms can occur any time between ovulation and when the menstrual bleeding cycle begins, according to WebMD.com. These symptoms can also vary in severity or disappear completely from month to month, according to the site. Sometimes premenstrual symptoms can worsen between ovulation and the first day of bleeding during the menstrual cycle as well, rather than lessen as most women tend to experience.

Severe Pre-Period Symptoms

While pre-period symptoms can be annoying for most women, some women experience extreme premenstrual symptoms and have to seek medical help. This is a severe type of PMS that, according to WebMD.com, only affects about 8 percent of all women. These women tend to have extreme emotional issues during this time, such as deep depression, feelings of guilt and shame, feelings that they have lost control over their lives and negative behaviors.

Treating Premenstrual Symptoms

Most symptoms that come before your period can be alleviated with over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen. Birth control pills also help women cope with premenstrual symptoms because they can help stabilize hormones, reduce symptoms and calm irrational moods. Women who are experiencing severe symptoms or symptoms that can't be alleviated by over-the-counter medications should seek medical attention as soon as possible.