{"id":618,"date":"2022-03-03T13:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T13:20:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-01-10T13:04:16","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T13:04:16","slug":"how-women-look-and-feel-throughout-the-stages-of-menstruation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/how-women-look-and-feel-throughout-the-stages-of-menstruation\/","title":{"rendered":"PMS: How Women Look And Feel Throughout The Stages Of Menstruation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The menstrual cycle and PMS is a natural part of life and the female reproductive system. While their monthly cycle is crucial for allowing women to experience the miracle of creating life, it has its many challenges throughout a woman\u2019s life. As many as 3<\/a><\/p>\n

in 4 women<\/a> say they experience symptoms of discomfort on a monthly basis, related to their periods.<\/p>\n

PMS, or \u201cpremenstrual syndrome\u201d naturally accompanies a woman\u2019s menstrual cycle, causing symptoms from bloating and cramping to irritability and depression. According to Dr. Rudolf Probst, gynecologist:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe symptoms include changes in the emotions and mood, appetite, sleep patterns, low sex drive and restlessness. You can also experience muscle and back pain, headache, constipation. abdominal bloating, acne flare ups, cramping, tender breasts and diarrhea.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, how do you handle the challenges of your menstrual cycle? At what stage does each symptom tend to occur? How long does each symptom last, and what can you do to combat these PMS problems?<\/p>\n

Cramping and Bloating: When Do Physical PMS Symptoms Begin?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Some of the most common, and problematic symptoms of PMS are cramping and bloating<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These physical symptoms, along with various emotional issues such as increased anxiety, insecurity, stress, or sensitivity, begin to develop a couple of weeks before your period is due. What many people don\u2019t realise is the worst symptoms of your period can happen long before you start bleeding.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Rashmi Byakodi, \u201cSymptoms often worsen a week before and spike two days before menstruation begins.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notably, cramps and bloating can also be made worse by a multitude of accompanying symptoms associated with PMS.<\/p>\n

For instance, swelling and inflammation are common in the week before the period, as are changes in appetite, which may cause your stomach to appear swollen if you eat too much. The combination of different physical factors working together in your body means you\u2019re most likely to feel \u201cfat\u201d and \u201cuncomfortable\u201d the week prior to your period.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, your hormones are completely unbalanced during this week too, which can cause you to feel more sensitive<\/a>, and hyper-aware of your appearance.<\/p>\n

Even if you look no different to most people, a higher level of anxiety, and low self-esteem could cause distortions in how you view yourself.<\/p>\n

\"circlemagazine-circledna-pms\"<\/figure>\n

What Happens to Your Mind and Mood During the Menstrual Cycle?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During your menstrual cycle, your body is going through a significant hormonal change. This has a significant impact on your mood and cognitive performance. According to Clair Grayson, psychologist, and the Co-Founder of Personality Max, symptoms can include:<\/p>\n