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How your period makes you feel

Many women have cramps along with their periods. The pain can range from mild to very painful, and it can vary from month to month how much they hurt and how long they last. Other problems that can happen include nausea, vomiting, headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, tiredness, mood swings, and food cravings.

Many women also experience PMS or premenstrual syndrome. PMS is the name of the group of symptoms that start around 7 to 14 days before your period begins. The list of symptoms below is long – and it doesn’t even include all of them! You may experience one, some, or none of the symptoms listed, and it may be worse some months and not as bad other months. And every woman is different when it comes to PMS.

These symptoms most often stop soon after your period starts. Most women have some aches before their periods start, but if you have PMS, you may feel the emotional symptoms as well. No one knows for sure what causes PMS, but it seems to be linked to the changes in hormone levels that happen during your menstrual cycle. PMS is not caused by stress or depression, but these issues can make your PMS symptoms worse.

What you can do FIRST: Diet and exercise

It is important to know that these symptoms are often a normal part of having periods. Making changes to your diet and exercise habits can help provide relief, although it might take some time to find the lifestyle changes that make you feel better. Also, diet and exercise habits or medicines that work for your friends or family members may not work for you. Work with your doctor to find the right treatments for you.

PMS Tips

• Eat complex carbohydrates (found in whole grain breads, pasta and cereals), fiber and protein

• Eat less sugar and fat

• Stay away from salt the few days before your period (less bloating)

• Drink less caffeine (found in soda, tea and coffee) to feel less crabby and help ease breast soreness

• Eat small frequent meals each day rather than big ones

• Make sure you are getting the exercise teens need: 30 minutes of exercise, 4 to 6 times a week

• Make sure to get about 8 hours of sleep at night

• Keep a regular schedule for exercise, meals, and bedtime

You may have heard that vitamins and other pills such as vitamin B 6, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese and tryptophan, can help relieve PMS. There has not been enough research done on these vitamins to know if they really help, and they may even hurt you. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about trying any of these.

Treating PMS

First, if you are having symptoms of PMS, let your doctor know. While there is no cure for PMS, your doctor may suggest changes in your diet, exercise, and pain medicines. Many medicines are over-the-counter (you can buy them without a doctor’s order), such as pain relievers that have ibuprofen and naproxen, but you should still talk to your parents/guardian and doctor before taking these. For some medicines, you will need a doctor’s prescription (order). Medicines that can be given to you by a doctor include diuretics and birth control pills.

• Diuretics help your body get rid of extra fluid, helping with bloating, weight gain, breast pain and stomach pain.

• Birth control pills or “the pill” can help make some of your PMS symptoms better by controlling hormone levels during your whole menstrual cycle. The pill, which has side effects of its own, can help some, but not all women. The pill also will not help with all symptoms.

Content last updated June 18, 2008

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