Doctors have long puzzled over the causes of women's malaise before menstruation. Some healers associated it with the phases of the moon, others with the area in which the woman lives.

The condition of the girl before menstruation remained a mystery for a long time. Only in the twentieth century the veil of secrecy was slightly opened.

PMS is a mix of 150 different physical and mental symptoms. To one degree or another, about 75% of women experience manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.

How long does PMS last for girls? Unpleasant symptoms begin to appear 2-10 days before the onset of menstruation, and disappear with the advent of the "red" days of the calendar.

• Crime chronicle. PMS is not only shattered nerves and broken plates. Most traffic accidents, crimes, thefts committed by women occurred between the 21st and 28th days of the menstrual cycle.
• Shopping therapy. According to research, a few days before menstruation, women are most susceptible to the temptation to buy as much as possible.
• PMS symptoms are more prone to women engaged in mental work and residents of large cities.
• The term PMS was first used by Robert Frank, an obstetrician-gynecologist from England.

Why does premenstrual syndrome occur?

Numerous studies do not allow to identify the exact causes of premenstrual syndrome. There are many theories of its occurrence: “water intoxication” (violation of water-salt metabolism), allergic nature (increased sensitivity to endogenous), psychosomatic, hormonal, etc.

But the most complete is the hormonal theory, which explains the symptoms of PMS by fluctuations in the level of sex hormones in the 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle. For the normal, harmonious functioning of a woman's body, the balance of sex hormones is very important:

• - they improve physical and mental well-being, increase tone, creativity, speed of assimilation of information, learning abilities
• progesterone - has a sedative effect, which can lead to depressive symptoms in the 2nd phase of the cycle
• androgens - affect libido, increase energy, performance

During the second phase of the menstrual cycle, a woman's hormonal levels change. According to this theory, the cause of PMS lies in the “inadequate” response of the body, including the brain regions responsible for behavior and emotions, to cyclic changes in hormonal levels, which is often inherited.

Since the days before menstruation are endocrine unstable, many women experience psychovegetative and somatic disorders. In this case, the decisive role is played not so much by the level of hormones (which can be normal), but by fluctuations in the content of sex hormones during the menstrual cycle and how the limbic parts of the brain responsible for behavior and emotions react to these changes:

• an increase in estrogen and first an increase, and then a decrease in progesterone- hence the retention of fluids, swelling, engorgement and soreness of the mammary glands, cardiovascular disorders, irritability, aggression, tearfulness
• hypersecretion - also leads to fluid retention, sodium in the body
• excess prostaglandins- , digestive disorders, migraine-like headaches

The most likely factors affecting the development of the syndrome, on which the opinions of physicians do not differ:

• Decreased serotonin levels- this is the so-called "hormone of joy", may be the cause of the development of mental signs of premenstrual syndrome, since a decrease in its level causes sadness, tearfulness, melancholy and depression.
• Vitamin B6 deficiency- Symptoms such as fatigue, fluid retention in the body, mood changes, and breast hypersensitivity indicate a lack of this vitamin.
• Magnesium deficiency – Magnesium deficiency can cause dizziness, headaches, cravings for chocolate.
• Smoking. Women who smoke are twice as likely to get premenstrual syndrome.
• Overweight . Women with a body mass index over 30 are three times more likely to suffer from PMS symptoms.
• genetic factor- it is possible that the features of the course of premenstrual syndrome are inherited.
• , complicated childbirth, stress, surgical interventions, infections, gynecological pathologies.

The main symptoms and manifestations of premenstrual syndrome

Groups of symptoms in PMS:

• Neuropsychiatric disorders: aggression, depression, irritability, tearfulness.
• Vegetovascular disorders: changes in blood pressure, headache, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, tachycardia,.
• Metabolic and endocrine disorders: swelling, fever, chills, breast engorgement, itching, flatulence, shortness of breath, thirst, memory loss,.

PMS in women can be conditionally divided into several forms, but their symptoms usually do not appear in isolation, but are combined. In the presence of psychovegetative manifestations, especially depression, the pain threshold decreases in women and they perceive pain more acutely.

neuropsychic	crisis form	Atypical manifestations of PMS
Violations in the nervous and emotional spheres: anxiety disorders feeling of unreasonable sadness depression feeling of fear depression impaired concentration forgetfulness insomnia (see) irritability mood swings decrease or significant increase in libido aggression	tachycardia attacks jumps in blood pressure heartache frequent urination episodes panic attacks Most women have diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.	subfebrile temperature (up to 37.7 ° C) increased drowsiness bouts of vomiting allergic reactions (ulcerative gingivitis and stomatitis, etc.)
	edematous form	Cephalgic form
	swelling of the face and limbs thirst weight gain pruritus decreased urination indigestion (constipation, diarrhea, flatulence) headaches joint pain There is a negative diuresis with fluid retention.	Leading mainly neurological and vegetative-vascular manifestations: migraine, throbbing pain, radiates to the eye area cardialgia (pain in the heart area) vomiting, nausea tachycardia hypersensitivity to smells, sounds in 75% of women, x-ray of the skull - hyperostosis, increased vascular pattern The family history of women with this form is aggravated by hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases.

PMS is different for every woman, and the symptoms vary greatly. According to the results of some studies, women with PMS have the following frequency of manifestation of one or another sign of PMS:

Symptom	frequency %	Hormonal theory of PMS
irritability	94
soreness of the mammary glands	87
bloating	75
tearfulness	69
depression sensitivity to odors headache	56
puffiness weakness sweating	50
heartbeat aggressiveness	44
dizziness pain in the lower abdomen nausea	37
pressure increase diarrhea weight gain	19
vomit	12
constipation	6
back pain	3

Premenstrual syndrome can aggravate the course of other diseases:

• Anemia (see)
• (cm. )
• Thyroid diseases
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• Bronchial asthma
• allergic reactions
• Inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs

Diagnosis: what can masquerade as manifestations of PMS?

Since dates and dates are easily forgotten, in order to make your task easier, you should keep a calendar or diary where you write down the start and end dates of your period, ovulation (basal temperature), weight, symptoms that bother you. Keeping such a diary for 2-3 cycles will greatly simplify the diagnosis and allow you to trace the frequency of PMS symptoms.

The severity of premenstrual syndrome is determined by the number, duration and intensity of symptoms:

• Mild: 3-4 symptoms, or 1-2 if severe
• Severe form: 5-12 symptoms or 2-5, but very pronounced, and also regardless of the duration and their number, if they lead to disability (usually neuropsychic form)

The main feature that distinguishes premenstrual syndrome from other diseases or conditions is cyclicality. That is, a deterioration in well-being occurs a few days before menstruation (from 2 to 10) and completely disappears with their arrival. However, unlike psychovegetative, physical discomfort in the first days of the next cycle can intensify and smoothly turn into disorders such as menstrual migraine.

• If a woman feels relatively well in the 1st phase of the cycle, then this is a premenstrual syndrome, and not a chronic disease - neurosis, depression,
• If the pain appears only immediately before and during menstruation, especially when combined with - this is most likely not PMS, but other gynecological diseases - chronic endometritis, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) and others.

To establish the form of the syndrome, hormone studies are carried out: prolactin, estradiol and progesterone. The doctor may also prescribe additional diagnostic methods, depending on the prevailing complaints:

• With severe headaches, dizziness, decreased vision and fainting, computed tomography or MRI is prescribed to exclude organic brain diseases.
• With an abundance of neuropsychiatric diseases, an EEG is indicated to exclude the epileptic syndrome.
• With severe edema, changes in the daily amount of urine (diuresis), tests are performed to diagnose the kidneys (see).
• With severe and painful engorgement of the mammary glands, it is necessary to conduct an ultrasound of the mammary glands and mammography to exclude organic pathology.

Conducts a survey of women suffering from PMS, not only a gynecologist, but also involved: psychiatrists, neurologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, cardiologists and therapists.

Premenstrual syndrome or pregnancy?

Some symptoms of PMS are similar to those of pregnancy (see). After conception, the content of the hormone progesterone in a woman’s body increases, which also happens during PMS, so the following symptoms are identical:

• fast fatiguability
• swelling and soreness of the breast
• nausea, vomiting
• irritability, mood swings
• lower back pain

How to distinguish pregnancy from PMS? Comparison of the most common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and pregnancy:

Symptoms	Pregnancy	Premenstrual syndrome
Soreness of the mammary glands	accompanies the entire pregnancy	Pain goes away with menstruation
Appetite	the attitude to food changes, you want inedible, salty beer, something that a woman usually does not like, the sense of smell is greatly aggravated, ordinary smells can be very annoying	can crave sweet and savory, sensitivity to odors
Back pain	only late	may have back pain
Fatigue	starts 4-5 weeks after conception	can appear both immediately after ovulation, and 2-5 days before menstruation
	mild, short-term pain	individually in each case
Emotional condition	frequent mood swings, tearfulness	irritability
Frequent urination	maybe	No
Toxicosis	from 4-5 weeks after conception	possible nausea, vomiting

The signs of both conditions are very similar, so it’s not easy to understand what exactly happens in a woman’s body and distinguish pregnancy from PMS:

• The easiest way to find out what caused poor health is to wait for the onset of menstruation.
• If the calendar is already late, you should take a pregnancy test. A pharmacy test will give reliable results only with a delay in menstruation. It is sensitive to the pregnancy hormone (hCG) excreted in the urine. If you do not have enough patience and nerves to wait, you can take a blood test for hCG. It shows almost one hundred percent result on the tenth day after conception.
• The best option to find out what is bothering you - PMS syndrome or pregnancy - is to visit a gynecologist. The doctor will assess the condition of the uterus and, if pregnancy is suspected, will prescribe an ultrasound.

When to See a Doctor

If the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome significantly reduce the quality of life, affect the ability to work and have a pronounced character, treatment is indispensable. After a thorough examination, the doctor will prescribe drug therapy and give the necessary recommendations to alleviate the course of the syndrome.

How can a doctor help?

In most cases, treatment is symptomatic. Depending on the form, course and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, a woman needs:

• Psychotherapy - mood swings, irritability, depression, from which both the woman and loved ones suffer, are corrected by the methods of stabilizing behavioral techniques and psycho-emotional relaxation,.
• For headaches, pain in the lower back and abdomen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for the temporary relief of pain (, Nimesulide, Ketanov, see).
• Diuretics for removing excess fluid from the body with edema (see).
• Hormone therapy is prescribed for insufficiency of the second phase of the cycle, only after tests of functional diagnostics, based on the results of the identified changes. Apply gestagens - Medroxyprogesterone acetate from 16 to 25 days of the cycle.
• are prescribed for many neuropsychic symptoms (insomnia, nervousness, aggressiveness, anxiety, panic attacks, depression): Amitriptyline, Rudotel, Tazepam, Sonapax, Sertraline, Zoloft, Prozac, etc. in the 2nd phase of the cycle after 2 days from the onset of symptoms.
• With crisis and cephalgic forms, it is possible to prescribe Parlodel in the 2nd phase of the cycle, or if prolactin is elevated, then in a continuous mode, it has a normalizing effect on the central nervous system.
• With cephalgic and edematous forms, antiprostaglandin drugs are recommended (Indomethacin, Naprosin) in the second phase of the menstrual cycle.
• Since women often have elevated levels of histamine and serotonin with PMS, the doctor may prescribe 2nd generation antihistamines (see) 2 days before the expected worsening of the condition at night before the 2nd day of menstruation.
• To improve blood circulation in the central nervous system, it is possible to use Grandaxin, Nootropil, Aminolone for 2-3 weeks.
• In the crisis, cephalgic and neuropsychic form, drugs are indicated that normalize the neurotransmitter metabolism in the central nervous system - Peritol, Difenin, the doctor prescribes the drug for a period of 3-6 months.
• Homeopathic preparations Remens or Mastodinone.

What can you do?

• Full sleep

Try to sleep as much as your body has time to fully rest, usually 8-10 hours (see. Lack of sleep leads to irritability, anxiety and aggression, negatively affects the immune system. If you suffer from insomnia, try walking before bed, breathing technology.

• aromatherapy

In the absence of allergies, compositions of specially selected aromatic oils are a good weapon against PMS symptoms. Geranium, rose and will help normalize the cycle. Lavender and basil effectively fight spasms. Juniper and bergamot are uplifting. Start taking baths with aromatic oils two weeks before your period.

Hiking, running, Pilates, body flex, yoga, dancing are a great way to treat symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in women. Regular exercise increases endorphin levels, which can help fight depression and insomnia, as well as reduce the severity of physical symptoms.

• Take vitamin B6 and magnesium two weeks before your period

Magne B6, Magnerot, as well as vitamins E and A - this will make it much more effective to deal with such manifestations of PMS as: heart palpitations, heart pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and irritability.

• Nutrition

Eat more fruits and vegetables, high-fiber foods, and include calcium-rich foods in your diet. Temporarily limit the use of coffee, chocolate, cola, as caffeine increases mood swings, irritability, anxiety. The daily diet should include 10% fat, 15% protein and 75% carbohydrates. Fat intake should be reduced, as well as beef, some types of which contain artificial estrogens. Useful herbal teas, freshly squeezed juices, especially carrot and lemon. It is better not to drink alcohol, it depletes the reserves of mineral salts and B vitamins, disrupts the metabolism of carbohydrates, and reduces the ability of the liver to utilize hormones.

• Relaxation practices

Avoid stress, try not to overwork and maintain a positive mood and thinking, relaxation practices such as yoga and meditation help with this.

• Regular sex

It helps fight insomnia, stress and bad mood, increase the level of endorphins, strengthen the immune system. At this time, many women increase their sexual appetite - why not surprise your partner and try something new?

• medicinal plants

They can also help alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome: Vitex - relieves heaviness and pain in the mammary glands, Primrose (evening primrose) - from headaches and swelling, - an excellent antidepressant, normalizes libido, improves well-being and reduces fatigue.

A balanced diet, adequate exercise, vitamin supplements, healthy sleep, regular sex, a positive attitude towards life will help alleviate the psychological and physical manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.

The first bleeding - menstruation - begins in girls at the age of 12-15. Every girl should know the signs of their approach.

Signs of menstruation - in girls

The approach of the first menstruation is usually signaled by a number of characteristic symptoms.

These are, first of all, signs of puberty: the mammary glands increase, become sensitive and painful, the hips expand, becoming more rounded, feminine. The fact that the first menstruation is approaching is evidenced by the hairiness of the armpits and pubis - this means that the sex glands have begun to function. Often there are light secretions of a creamy consistency.

These signs should be reported to one of the older women in the family.

It is easy to determine the approach of critical days for an adult woman - signs of menstruation appear in about a week:

• The mammary glands chop, increase in size, become denser and more sensitive. There are often painful sensations in the nipple area.
• In young people, acne on the forehead may appear during this period. This symptom can be observed up to 30-35 years in 99% of women.
• A pronounced symptom is pulling pain in the lower abdomen. As a rule, they appear before the onset of menstruation and accompany them for 2-3 days. In addition, the woman feels aching pain in the lower back.

Despite the fact that these signs are considered normal, their increase may indicate any abnormalities. Therefore, it is important to visit the gynecologist regularly and follow the cycle with the help of a calendar.

Premenstrual syndrome

Some women confuse the concepts of PMS and signs of menstruation. In fact, premenstrual syndrome is not only the signs that were mentioned above, but also a whole group of neuropsychic symptoms that indicate endocrine system disorders. Signs of PMS before menstruation are divided into four types, which have a different form of the syndrome.

1. If the form of the disease is neuropsychic, the woman becomes irritable, tearful, or vice versa, aggressive. She feels weak, she is sick, depressed. May cause flatulence.
2. With the edematous form of PMS, the characteristic signs are acute soreness of the chest, the face, ankles, and hands swell. And, besides - bloating, skin itching, excessive sweating.
3. In the cephalgic form, a woman suffers from migraines, nausea, dizziness, and she is irritable. Sometimes against this background there are pains in the heart, swelling, numbness of the fingers.
4. Crisis, the most severe form of PMS. She is characterized by a jump in blood pressure, heaviness in the chest, a manic fear of death.

It should be remembered that premenstrual syndrome is not only evidence of the approach of critical days, but also a complex condition requiring treatment.
There are signs, but menstruation is late

This can seriously alert a woman. If critical days do not occur in the presence of symptoms, then most likely she is pregnant. The result of a pregnancy test will not give anything - the level of hCG has not yet risen enough. If the delay has become too long, and the test results are negative, then you should urgently go to a specialist - he should send you for an ultrasound. Such symptoms may indicate hormonal failure, tumors on the ovaries, etc. Another reason for a long delay in menstruation (amenorrhea) is the consequences of an abortion, miscarriage, stress, overwork, and even a long absence of sex.

What should worry a woman?

Before menstruation, a woman has a small whitish discharge, which is considered normal. But if they become plentiful and change in color, it is better to consult a gynecologist:

• If thick curdled flakes stand out from the vagina, then it may be thrush.
• If you recently had childbirth, and the cycle has not yet recovered, there may be a black daub before menstruation.
• Pinkish discharge, similar to the ichor, indicates erosion of the cervix. It can also signal endocerciitis and other infectious diseases.
• If a brown spot appeared on the eve of menstruation, it means that it is possible that you have endometriosis and hormonal failure. You should take tests.
• Thick mucous yellowish-green discharge is the most dangerous - they portend purulent cercevit

Menstruation is an integral part of every woman's life. They indicate that everything is fine with the female body, and their absence may indicate pregnancy. The first signs of menstruation are special sensations that are directly related to the natural restructuring that occurs in women every month.

Approximately 45% of women note that the older they are, the more pronounced the symptoms. As a rule, signs appear 10 days before the onset of menstruation.

Women note the manifestation of fatigue, general malaise, vomiting, depression and aggression.

Some ladies during PMS become unbearable, cause a lot of trouble to their loved ones because of their aggressive and irritable state.

While the symptoms of menstruation can vary from woman to woman, there are many common signs.

The first signs of the onset of menstruation in women are:

• feeling of depression and tearfulness;
• anxiety;
• aggression;
• hopelessness;
• headache;
• malaise;
• a great desire not to see anyone;
• absent-mindedness, it is impossible to concentrate and concentrate;
• excessive sleepiness;
• insomnia;
• flatulence
• the appearance of puffiness;
• the chest becomes sensitive and felt.

As a rule, several symptoms appear at once. If the signs before menstruation cause a lot of discomfort, you need to visit a doctor who will prescribe appropriate therapy. It is worth understanding in detail all the signs of the onset of critical days.

"Brutal" appetite before menstruation

Extra pounds is a sore subject for every woman. Before the onset of menstruation, one should expect an increased feeling of hunger and very much. Of course, all the same female hormones are to blame. During this period, the body lacks serotonin - the hormone of joy.

In order for all processes to return to normal, you need a lot of carbohydrates, and therefore there is a feeling of hunger. In order not to gain body weight, qualified help from a nutritionist and endocrinologist is needed. The principle is to eat small meals often. Drink more water, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy products.

The appearance of acne before the onset of menstruation

A week before the onset of menstruation, many women appear on the skin of their faces. Such a symptom is considered individual, but the frequency of its manifestation is 95%.

Vomiting indicates the onset of menstruation?

The cause of vomiting is the increased level of female hormones during this period. Often, vomiting increases when taking birth control pills. This may indicate that the tool is not correctly selected.

Also, nausea can occur due to the design of the uterus. Before menstruation, it increases and puts pressure on the nerve centers that provoke vomiting.

It can also occur with excessive physical exertion.

Headaches

The body begins to prepare for conception, there is a decrease in progesterone. If fertilization does not occur, menstruation begins. A large number of women do not notice that they have a headache.

More sensitive ladies complain about such signs. The water-salt balance deserves attention, if it is disturbed, this can cause headaches. Special attention should be paid to the development of depression.

Frequent emptying of the bladder

This is a common occurrence. Sometimes emptying can be accompanied by pain in the urinary canal. It is considered a deviation if a woman urinates more than 10 times a day.

Frequent urge to empty can be caused by hormonal imbalance, formations in the urinary tract, stones in the urinary tract, neurosis, diabetes, uterine prolapse and fibroids.

But if you constantly want to "small", maybe you have. This is a disease of the bladder.

If the urge appears only a week before menstruation, this is a signal that menstruation will begin soon.

If there are symptoms, but no periods?

There are situations when women have the first signs a week before the onset of menstruation, but there is still no menstruation. This situation may indicate the onset of pregnancy. But, even before the start of the expected menstruation, the test is unlikely to clarify anything. The level of hCG at this stage of pregnancy is too low. Only a blood test for the level of the “pregnancy hormone” can accurately determine pregnancy.

If it is long, you need to conduct a test, and if it is negative, you should immediately visit a gynecologist.

The problem and causes can be different: diseases, metabolic disorders, stress, hormone imbalance, etc.

In any case, if there are all signs that menstruation is about to begin, but they are not there, you should be wary. It is not a fact that this is a dangerous disease or pathology, but it is still worth contacting a gynecologist for advice.

Why erroneous symptoms appear:

• Often, pain before menstruation can occur if a woman is diagnosed.
• Symptoms such as before menstruation can be with endometriosis, a progressive adhesive disease.
• Pain that a girl mistakenly perceives as signs of menstruation is called acyclic and may not be associated with menstruation.
• Another possible reason, when a week before menstruation, all signs of upcoming critical days appear, even a daub may begin, is an ectopic pregnancy. This pregnancy is "wrong" and it is very dangerous for a woman's life, so you need to visit in time.

What measures to take when there are signs of early menstruation, but critical days do not begin? Consult a doctor who will prescribe an effective treatment. With amenorrhea, all premenstrual symptoms may persist, but menstruation is completely absent. And this state can last up to six months.

Why can my stomach hurt before menstruation?

Almost every woman before the onset of menstruation feels lingering pain in the lower abdomen, possibly bloating and intestinal dysfunction. These sensations appear 5-7 days before the onset of menstrual flow.

What causes can provoke pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation?

Main reasons:

• low levels of endorphins in the blood;
• available ;
• stress, depression;
• anomalies of a gynecological nature;
• infections of the reproductive organs.

If the pain is severe and unbearable, immediately call an ambulance.

Treatment of unpleasant symptoms

As a rule, symptomatic therapy is used to help eliminate discomfort and discomfort. The gynecologist must conduct a survey, prescribe the necessary laboratory tests that will help establish the cause of the obvious signs.

If the symptoms are related to the hormonal background, hormone therapy is used, the course lasts about three months. Infectious diseases require antibiotic treatment. In order to prevent bleeding before menstruation, curettage is carried out.

Can be prescribed, which relieve swelling of the limbs.

You can also make your life easier during this period. Start to lead a healthy lifestyle, engage in regular physical activity, reduce the consumption of salt and starchy foods. Avoid coffee and alcohol.

Refuse food that can provoke stagnation of fluid in the body. In order to remove excess fluid, the doctor may prescribe diuretics.

In fact, every woman is already used to the signs of menstruation. But if they become very pronounced, you need to urgently visit a doctor in order to avoid unpleasant consequences that can cause the development of pathology.

When does PMS start? This question is often heard from women. PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome - this is the emotional and physiological instability of the female body, which provokes a conflict with oneself and others. To prevent this condition? every woman needs to know the main rules of behavior and the characteristics of her body before the approach of menstruation.

The reduction of PMS has entered the lexicon of medical terms of gynecologists not so long ago. This syndrome is characterized by changes in the psychological state and physiological work of the body of girls and women before the start of the next menstruation.

• manifestations of behavior uncharacteristic for a woman;
• propensity to start a conflict from scratch;
• headache;
• causeless tantrums;
• tearfulness;
• fatigue, etc.

According to statistics, about 90% of all women in the world are subject to the development of PMS of various strengths. Almost 150 different symptoms of this condition are known.

Symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome manifests itself in a large number. Some of them are particularly strong, while others are less intense. Symptoms may not stop for several days, generally dragging on even for 10 days. They are classified into physiological and psychological.

The psychological ones are:

• depressive states;
• feeling of depression;
• stress;
• nervousness;
• unreasonable aggression and irritability over trifles;
• frequent mood swings.

Psychological signs are usually strong and begin to develop gradually in the second half of the cycle. As a rule, the strength of such symptoms corresponds to the work of the nervous system and hormones.

Physiological include:

• nausea with vomiting;
• fluctuations in blood pressure;
• aching heart pain or tingling;
• swelling;
• breast augmentation;
• the temperature rises - it happens very rarely;
• weight gain.

Physiological symptoms directly depend on the hormonal balance of a woman, on her lifestyle.

Causes

In the 30s of the 20th century, gynecologist Robert Frank first defined the disease, which manifests itself with different strengths in all women before the onset of menstruation. He called it "premenstrual tension."

At the same time, the doctor considered the imbalance of hormones in the body before menstruation to be the main cause of ailments. Medical scientists are still trying to clarify the causes of such changes in the body. Indeed, during this period, balanced women become truly hysterical, conflict and emotional persons.

Several theories have been identified for the development of PMS, but all of them cannot fully describe the causes of health disorders before the onset of menstruation:

Hormonal disbalance

On specific days of the cycle - usually in the last 2 weeks - in women, the balance of hormones between estrogen and progesterone fails. This causes psycho-emotional disorders, deviations in the functioning of the vegetative-vascular system, problems with metabolic and endocrine processes.

An increase in the concentration of the hormone estrogen provokes a delay in the cells of sodium and water - in connection with this, edema appears, abnormalities in the work of the heart and blood vessels, as well as excretory organs, and the stomach hurts.

Nervousness, tearfulness and fatigue are provoked precisely by hormonal disruptions.

Water intoxication

According to this theory, the development of physiological and psychological abnormalities is associated with disturbances in the water-salt balance. Delayed excretion of fluid, swelling, acute perception of certain odors, itching of the skin are the consequences of neuroendocrine disorders.

The accumulation of water in the body before menstruation often causes weight gain. The mass of a woman usually increases by 3 - 5 kg, but from the day of the onset of menstruation, these kilograms go away on their own.

Disorders of the central nervous system

This theory of the causes of PMS is considered the most relevant. It turns out that a failure in the emotional and physical state is provoked by functional disorders of the central nervous system.

The older the woman, the more pronounced the symptoms of PMS, in addition, the tendency to depression increases. Young girls become aggressive and irritable, they are characterized by frequent changes in mood and behavior.

Scientists have carefully studied the risk factors associated with PMS. The most common of them, affecting the intensity of the manifestation of PMS, include:

• Caucasian race;
• mental work and living in big cities;
• frequent pregnancies;
• lack of pregnancy, abortions and miscarriages;
• pathology of the genitourinary system;
• gynecological operations;
• long-term thrush of the genital organs;
• prolonged depression and constant stress;
• chronic fatigue;
• infections;
• side effects of contraceptives;
• malnutrition;
• physical inactivity.

When PMS begins depends on the physiological processes in the woman's body. Every day of the cycle in the body of a woman there are any changes in the genitals. In the first half - the process of egg maturation - lasts 14 - 16 days. In the middle of the cycle, the egg leaves the follicle. In the remaining days before menstruation, the body prepares the conditions for the course of pregnancy, if it occurs, or begins to reject the excess if it has not occurred.

When the cycle begins, the woman feels good - but from the moment the egg is released - ovulation - negative changes begin. It turns out that PMS begins on average 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation. Sometimes a premenstrual symptom follows immediately after ovulation.

How many days before menstruation

The psycho-emotional and physical state begins to deteriorate somewhere 2 to 10 days before menstruation. For each woman, this time is individual and depends on the characteristics of her body, living conditions, temperament and state of health.

How long does it take

The main cause of PMS is hormone imbalance. PMS is more severe after gynecological operations.

A feeling of discomfort, pain and other pathological changes begin to occur 1 to 10 days before menstruation. The condition lasts until the onset of menstruation. On her first day, the symptoms gradually disappear. If PMS symptoms persist, you should visit a gynecologist for a consultation.

How to alleviate the condition

If PMS in a girl or woman is painful and lasts a long time, then it requires medical correction to alleviate the condition and.

In order to normalize emotions, sedatives with natural ingredients are prescribed - for example, Novopassit.

To restore hormonal balance, hormonal drugs are prescribed - or Utrozhestan. Diclofenac is used to relieve pain.

Video about premenstrual syndrome

Period or menstruation (lat. mensis - month, menstruus - monthly) is a monthly process of cleansing the female body, during which girls bleed from the vagina.

Scientifically, menstruation is the shedding of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) and its removal along with blood from the vagina.

Often, when talking, instead of “monthly” you can hear: critical days, cases, monsters, bloody Mary, guests from Krasnodar, guests from Krasnoarmeysk, guests on a red Cossack, days of closed doors, days of the red army, a hedgehog in tomato sauce, a ship gave flow, crimson rivers, friends have come, red days of the calendar, accident, revolution.

The color of menstruation. Blood clots during menstruation

The blood during menstruation in the first days is bright scarlet, at the end it is dark, with a specific smell. If you find lumps and clots in the blood during menstruation - do not be alarmed, these are areas of the inner layer of the uterus - the endometrium, which is released along with the blood. If a woman is not pregnant, the endometrium is constantly updated: the old layer dies off and comes out during menstruation, and a new one grows in its place.

First period (menarche)

The first menstruation is called Menarche. Menstruation begins between the ages of 9 and 16 and indicates the body's ability to become pregnant. Often, the age at which the first menstruation occurs in a girl depends on the age at which her mother's menstruation began, i.e. - established by inheritance.

Signs of the first period can begin a couple of months before the onset. White or mucous discharge becomes more frequent, the lower abdomen pulls a little and the chest aches.

The first menstruation can appear in the form of just a couple of drops of blood, which eventually develop into regular and equal discharges.

Symptoms during menstruation

Before and during menstruation, almost all women experience the same symptoms, only in some they are less pronounced, in others in full:

- pulling pain in the lower abdomen;
- swelling, heaviness and pain of the chest;
- back pain;
- irritability;
- fatigue;
- heaviness in the legs;
— ;
- apathy.

Cycle and duration of menstruation

The cycle of menstruation is the period from the first day of the onset of menstruation to the first day of the onset of the next period. The norm of the monthly cycle is 20-35 days. The duration of menstruation is from 3 to 7 days.

After the first menstruation during the year, the cycle may not be regular, but then it gets better and is clearly repeated every time.

You can track your menstrual cycle using the calendar, simply by marking each day of your period. There are also special applications for PC and smartphones, by installing which you can mark and track your cycle.

In order for women to feel less discomfort during menstruation, scientists have come up with some hygiene products - pads, tampons, and even such a device that I think not everyone knows about yet - a menstrual cup.

Both pads and tampons are classified by the amount of discharge capacity. This capacity is indicated by the number of drops on the package. The more drops, the longer the tampon / pad lasts until the next change.

Of course, it is desirable to have these hygiene items of various capacities. For example, at the beginning and at the end of menstruation, it is better to use a tampon or pad for 2-3 drops, at the height - 4-6.

What to use - pads or tampons, you choose. You can alternate, for example, if you go to the pool, then you can’t do without a tampon, but you can use a pad at night. For some girls, pads create diaper rash, while for others, a huge discomfort from a tampon. Therefore, try and look for the most convenient option for yourself.

As I said, there are also menstrual cups in the world that are reusable. They need to be removed and poured out. True, this is not always convenient.

During menstruation, must be strictly observed. Wash your hands at least 3 times a day, and when changing a pad or tampon, be sure to wash your hands, both before and after contact.

If you put a tampon or a pad on yourself and you suddenly feel very bad, immediately take out this care product, and if you do not feel better, consult a doctor immediately.

What not to do during menstruation

During menstruation, you should refrain from:

- going to the beach or solarium;
- facial cleansing;
- depilation;
- Do not drink alcohol, coffee and spicy food.

All these factors can increase bleeding and increase the duration of menstruation.

When should you see a doctor?

For questions about menstruation, please contact.

You should contact your gynecologist if:

- the first menstruation appeared before 9 years;
- You are already 17 years old, and the first menstruation has not yet appeared;
- menstruation lasts 1-2 days or more than 7 days (period failure);
- the discharge is very scarce (a couple of drops) or very abundant (change the pad or tampon more often than after 2 hours);
- the menstrual cycle lasts less than 20 days or more than 40 days;
- feel severe pain during menstruation;
- when using a tampon, you suddenly began to feel unwell;
- there is bleeding between periods;
- after the cycle settled down, the failure began;
- no periods for a couple of months.

Video: All about menstruation