When should i get pms

If your symptoms follow the same pattern each month, you may have PMS. Your doctor may want to examine you and do some tests to rule out other possible problems.

He or she may also want to talk about your eating habits, exercise habits, your work, and your family. PMS cannot be prevented or avoided. For some women, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly may ease PMS symptoms. There is no cure for PMS, but taking medicine may help. Consider taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen, to help ease cramps, headaches, backaches, and breast tenderness.

Depending on your PMS symptoms and how severe they are, your doctor may prescribe medicine for you. You may need to try more than one medicine to find the treatment that works best for you.

Medicines that your doctor can prescribe include diuretics, antidepressants, and birth control pills. Diuretics help your body get rid of extra sodium and fluid. They can ease bloating, weight gain, breast pain, and abdominal pain. Diuretics usually are taken just before you would normally experience these symptoms in your menstrual cycle and can be stopped when they are no longer needed.

Antidepressants can help with the severe irritability, depression, and anxiety that some women experience as part of PMS. These medicines are usually taken every day, even when you feel fine. Birth control pills help by evening out your hormone levels throughout your cycle.

You can buy medicines without a prescription to help with the symptoms of PMS. These medicines usually combine aspirin or acetaminophen with caffeine, antihistamines, or diuretics.

Some over-the-counter pain relievers can also help. These medicines can work well for mild or moderate PMS. Talk to your doctor before you try one of these drugs. Then you can change your diet, exercise, and schedule to get through each month as smoothly as possible. Try not to get discouraged if it takes some time to find tips or medicine that help you.

Treatment varies from one person to another. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment. You may have read that some vitamins and other supplements, such as vitamin B6, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and tryptophan, can help relieve PMS.

All medicines have risks. Talk to your doctor or nurse about the benefits and risks. Should I take vitamins or minerals to treat PMS symptoms? Studies have found benefits for: Calcium. Studies show that calcium can help reduce some PMS symptoms, such as fatigue, cravings, and depression.

Some foods, such as orange juice, cereal, and bread, have calcium added fortified. You can also take a calcium supplement. Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 may help with PMS symptoms, including moodiness, irritability, forgetfulness, bloating, and anxiety.

Vitamin B6 can be found in foods such as fish, poultry, potatoes, fruit except for citrus fruits , and fortified cereals.

You can also take it as a dietary supplement. Studies have found mixed results for: Magnesium. If you get menstrual migraines , talk to your doctor about whether you need more magnesium. You can also take a supplement.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega Studies show that taking a supplement with 1 to 2 grams of polyunsaturated fatty acids may help reduce cramps and other PMS symptoms. What complementary or alternative medicines may help relieve PMS symptoms? Some herbal supplements women use to ease PMS symptoms include: Black cohosh. Black cohosh is most often used to help treat menopausal symptoms, 29 and some women use it to help relieve PMS symptoms.

Women taking hormonal birth control or hormone therapy for menopause symptoms should not take chasteberry. Evening primrose oil. Some women report that the pill helps relieve PMS symptoms, but the research results are mixed. Did we answer your question about PMS? Sources Freeman, E. Dennerstein, L. Premenstrual symptoms—severity, duration and typology: an international cross-sectional study.

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Richards, M. Premenstrual symptoms and perimenopausal depression. American Journal of Psychiatry; 1 : Bloch, M. Effects of gonadal steroids in women with a history of postpartum depression. American Journal of Psychiatry; 6 : Pinkerton, J. Menstrual cycle-related exacerbation of disease. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology; 3 : American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Premenstrual Syndrome PMS. Dickerson, L. Premenstrual Syndrome.

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Effect of aerobic exercise on premenstrual symptoms, haemotological and hormonal parameters in young women.

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; 3: 1—4. It's usually at its worst during the 4 days before a period. PMS usually goes away 2 to 3 days after the period begins. If your PMS is severe, your doctor can help with treatments, including medicine.

Call the doctor if you:. Period cramps are pain in the lower belly during a girl's period. Many girls have cramps during the first few days of their periods. Period cramps are caused by prostaglandin, a chemical in the body that makes the muscle in the uterus contract.

Irregular periods are when a girl or woman does not get a period about every 4—5 weeks. In the first 2 years after a girl starts getting her period, it is normal for the cycles to be irregular.

But by about 2 years after periods start, they should be on a regular cycle. Track your periods so you know if they are regular.