MENSTRUAL PERIOD side effects

Some uncomfortable side effects may be associated with a woman's menstrual cycle. The sensations experienced vary from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle. These may include cramping, heavy bleeding or nausea. Some women report that they are more emotional during their menstrual cycle and have a difficult time coping with their daily lives. Some girls and women cannot notice any pre-menstrual symptoms and never can feel the date of menstrual period. In general all pre-menstrual and menstrual symptoms mainly depend on hormones.

Women feelings and behavior depends very much from concentration and proportions of female hormones. Many women feel weak and unpredictable during the period. The most happy and stable period is usually before ovulation (5- 13 days of the menstrual cycle). Some girls and women feel the ovulation and they could have abdomen pain before and during ovulation (13-15 days of the cycle). The most problematic is the period before expecting menstruation (16-28 days of the cycle).

Pre-menstrual symptoms called Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and could be pretty disturbing. Depending on age and health status the following pre-menstrual symptoms are possible:

• Mood swings - tension, irritability, crying spells, etc.
• Some muscle pain,
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps/pain
• Tiredness
• Troubled sleeping, troubles with concentrating and/or remembering,
• Weight gain

Pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS) are the symptoms that a woman may experience one or two weeks before her period begins. PMS is more common in women of age group 30 to 40. About 80% of women experience mild or severe premenstrual symptoms before each period. Premenstrual symptoms usually disappear with the occurrence of period.

Besides above mentioned pre-menstrual symptoms, the following symptoms could appear during menstruation:

	Very painful periods (known as dysmenorrheal). Some natural remedies could be pretty effective;
	Different types of pain - abdominal pain, back pain, headaches or migraine;
	Breast swelling and breast discomfort;
	Feeling bloated;
	Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual flow) which can cause anaemia. Treatment options include oral contraceptives to regulate the flow.
	Emotional disturbances associated with menstruation – irritability, sadness, depression, emotional sensitivity, tiredness, "weepiness", tears of emotional closeness, psychotic episodes, rare menstruation may be a trigger (menstrual psychosis).
	Nausea and/or vomiting;
	Changes in sex drive;
	Binge eating occurs in a minority of menstruating women;
	Diarrhea (mainly Prostaglandin-related) - besides riding a hormonal roller coaster and dealing with uncomfortable cramps, many women must contend with diarrhea during their period;
	Bowel movements - some women may even notice the opposite and become constipated during their period.

These were some of the negative premenstrual symptoms. Some women may experience positive pre-period symptoms like increased energy, relief, increased sex drive and euphoria. Premenstrual symptoms often disappear or decrease once the bleeding starts.

Causes of Premenstrual and Menstrual Symptoms

Every month an egg is released from a woman's ovary into the uterus. Along with this the lining of uterus also thickens to receive and nourish the egg in case if pregnancy occurs. In case the egg doesn't get fertilized, uterus lining is shed and the egg comes out in a form of menstrual period. During this time, a hormone called prostaglandins causes the muscles of uterus to contract for a long time, which results in stomach cramps.

A hormone called estrogen holds water and fluids in the body. Prior to menstration, estrogen level drops resulting in pre period symptoms like bloating and fluid retention. Sometimes it even results in salt retention. Decrease in levels of serototin may cause pre period symptoms like anxiety.

Pre-period symptoms are caused due the hormonal changes that take place prior to menstruation/period. Estrogen level which increases around the time of ovulation suddenly decrease prior to menstruation. A sudden decrease in the levels of progesterone and estrogen may be responsible for causing PMS. Sometimes even a poor diet (lack of nutrients) may be responsible for causing PMS.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

IMPENDING MENSTRUATION

ENDOMETRIOSIS

NATURAL REMEDIES for menstrual cramps, PMS, constipation, endometriosis, acne