Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Speaking in medical terms, which is used in most reference books, ovulation it’s a process when ready to fertilize egg leave the follicle an get into the abdominal cavity with subsequent promotion of fallopian tubes to the uterus itself. The first ovulation occurs slightly later than the beginning of puberty, the last – after the extinction of menstrual function during climax. During pregnancy, ovulation does not occur, but after the birth, it is restored.

Ovulation in women of childbearing age occurs periodically (every 21-35 days).
There are several subjective signs that a woman at this particular time is ovulate. These include short-term and slow abdominal pain, increased mucus, allocated by the cervix, lowering the temperature in the mouth or vagina. In addition, some women during ovulation have a very sharp sexual attraction to the partner, which was caused by the action of hormonal substances. However, all these signs can not be completely accurate.

Objectively, there are two methods for determining of ovulatory period. First, it’s ultrasonic monitoring of the follicle and its rupture (ovulation itself) development. Secondly, the definition of the dynamic nature of hormonal substances in the urine. The latter method can be used at home with the help of special tests recommended by your doctor.

Techniques used to establish ovulation, mostly for those women who want to become pregnant because the possibility of pregnancy exists only a few days – before, during and after the fact of ovulation.

However, not all that simple, if you plan to avoid pregnancy by calculating the “dangerous days”. Nature is much smarter than all mathematics. As a result of severe mental strain or stress there can occur not only the shift of the ovulation day, but even one more ovulation, during one menstrual cycle matures not one but two eggs.

For every women, standing ovulatory rhythm is changing within 3 months after the abortion, within one year after childbirth, and after 40 years, when the body is preparing for pre-menopausal.

The ovulation stops during the pregnancy and after the extinction of the menstrual function. Establishing the period of ovulation is important in selecting the most effective time for fertilization, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization.

In recent years, abnormal menstrual cycle is considered to be one of the most common diseases in gynecology. And telling the truth, it’s not just scientists’ conclusions, it’s my own notice on my friends and my own body in particular. So, I decided to make my own research on this theme and post here, in order woman can read and know what happens with their organism while menses.

The cause of menstrual irregularities may serve avitaminosis, hormonal disorders, psychological trauma, communicable diseases, and gynecological intervention. Disorders of the menstrual cycle are also caused by liver disease and obesity. Important role in the development of menstrual disorders has a genetic predisposition.

So, if you notice any symptoms, evidence of violations of the menstrual cycle, you should turn to the gynecologist. Symptoms in this case are scarce or too abundant in front of menstruation, irregular menses after long delays, with severe menstrual pain.
All deviations from the normal menstrual cycle in women are considered in gynecology menstrual irregularities or abnormal menstrual cycle. There are usually two large groups of disorders: hypomenstrual or hypermenstrual syndrome.

Besides, one of the serious forms of the menstrual cycle violations in women is amenorrhea. Amenorrhea – the absence of menstruation is more than six months. There are also other violations of the menstrual cycle in the form of oligomenorrhea (rare or scanty menses, the interval between which is more than 35 days), dysmenorrhea (irregular menses), menorrhagia (irregular menses), menorrhagia (excessively heavy menstrual bleeding), polymenorrhea (frequent menses, with a short interval of less than 25 days).

Algomenorrhea – is one of the types of abnormal menstrual cycle, which manifests itself as cramping, aching pain at least in the lower abdomen, waist during menstruation and the accompanying deterioration of general well-being. This condition refers to the most frequent types of gynecological diseases, which observed in 35-57% of women aged 13-48 years.

Off course, the causes of abnormal menstrual cycle are rather individual, so, in order to avoid some further health problems, in any case, consult the doctor and if necessary, start treatment, as all this may lead to sad consequences, like infertility.

When a woman is close to 45-46 years old, her life begins to acquire previously unknown nuances. Although menstruation do not give a failure, and doctors even recommend the use of contraceptive drugs for contraception. In the reproductive system of female body gradually develops involution processes, at the result of which reduce the synthesis of sex hormones in the ovaries. Exact at this period a woman enters a time of menopause.

Menopause literally means “the complete cessation of menstruation”, however, gynecologists denote this condition by a fairly long period during which there occur various changes relating to cessation of ovarian function.

Conditionally menopause is divided into three phases:

pre-menopausal – the start time reduction of ovarian function before menopause

perimenopause – extends the period of pre-and postmenopausal, including a year after menopause

postmenopausal – life time after menopause to the old ages.

In other words, while menopause, the woman reproductive period becomes unproductive, i.e., gradually the woman loses ability to conceive and birth a child.

Quite often, with the beginning of premenopausal marked changes in the functional status of many organs and systems. Ovulation occurs less frequently, the development of progesterone slows down, and consequently, the duration of menstrual cycles varies considerably. A similar phenomenon during menopause can last for several months or several years.

In general, the processes occurring in women during menopause, on the one hand, typical, and on the other – are individual in nature. The organism can individually respond to those or other changes in hormonal background – for example, someone will has a tendency to weight gain, and others, however, noticeably lose weight, and such manifestations of menopause set. They deliver a lot of unpleasant moments for women…but, however, we are strong goddesses, and we will be able to live out this moment!

P.s. Here are some early signs of menopause. Have you noticed some of them?

1. Changes in mood
2. Depression
3. Chronic fatigue
4. Headaches
5. Changing the monthly cycle
7. Change the hair on the body
8. Pain, cramping,
9. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels
10. Water retention
11. Night sweats
12. Sleep disorders
13. Increased premenstrual syndrome
14. Loss of interest in sexual activities
15. Reduced vaginal mucosa

If you feel something unusual in your organism, please, consult the gynecologist.

Before, I thought that PMS is rather rare conditions for young woman, but having experienced on my sister, I understand that this is a real problem, painful and unpleasant time. In order to start treatment we have read a lot of information about menstrual cycle, PMS and its symptoms. So, here you are what I’ve find.

Most women experience some discomfort before menstruation. Some of them do not bring these feelings of anxiety, as not pronounced and prolonged. For others – on the contrary, strongly violate the overall health and deliver a lot of trouble. Uncomfortable phenomenon may last from several hours to several days, the nature and manifestations of these discomforts diverse and individualized for each woman.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – it’s emotional and physical discomfort before menstruation. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) brings suffering to 80% of women of childbearing age (20-40 years). Approximately 30-40% experiencing so much suffering that disrupted their rhythm of life. And if it is left unattended and can not be cured, then over the years before menstruation discomfort will be felt stronger and stronger. And the most dangerous thing is that then premenstrual syndrome may gradually develop into menopause, and monthly pain will become daily.

The main symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (they all don’t occur at once), which usually occur for 7-14 days before menstruation:

- Weakness, fatigue, absent-mindedness.

- Insomnia or drowsiness.

- The heightened perception of noise.

- Headache , dizziness, fainting.

- Retardation, speech difficulty, tingling, numbness or a feeling of “chills” in the hands.

- Painful breast engorgement.

- Irritability, resentment, moodiness, tearfulness, conflicts, sudden outbursts of anger.

- Edema, a small weight gain, oliguria.

- Swelling or soreness of the joints, cramps in the calf muscles, aching muscle pain, limitation of movement and discomfort in your neck.

-Skin rash accompanied by itching, acne.

- Seizures heart palpitations.

- Nausea, vomiting, flatulence (gas formation increased in intestines), and constipation.

- Fever, nasal bleeding.

- Increase in appetite, change in taste (taste for salty, sweet), poor tolerance of alcohol.

- Increased susceptibility to infections and disorders of the urinary tract, aggravation of hemorrhoids, the appearance of asthma attacks, allergies.

What should do a woman who wants to constantly keep in touch with her body, and spirit? On my own example, I may suggest: keeping clear records of your monthly cycle – it’s the best way to keep abreast of changes occurring within you. In addition, it is also a great way to know in advance the date of your period (even if your monthly cycles are irregular), and be well informed on the most appropriate time for impregnation.

Cervical mucus.

The presence of this mucus is very easy to detect, because it stands out in your daily activity. Cervical mucus occurs in the cervix for several days, when the egg matures and is ready for ovulation. Isolation of cervical mucus – a sure sign of your fertility, but above all, it is not only a kind of “indicator”, but also serves directly for impregnation. Thus, I strongly recommend that you closely monitor your secretions, as well as maintain appropriate records regarding discharge of cervical mucus.

Basal Body Temperature.

If you are not sure that you are ovulating, you can measure your temperature. Under the influence of progesterone produced when ovulation, the normal temperature of a relaxed body is increased by 0,2% Celsius. To test this feature, you must measure your temperature at the same time, early in the morning. (This is not as difficult as it seems. The procedure takes less than 2 minutes, but then again you can go to sleep, if you want). Measure your temperature every day, after waking up to 7:30. Rhythms of the body (circadian rhythms) are observed 24 hours a day. Your temperature is the lowest in the early morning and highest – during the day. After 7:30 rhythms are accelerated. If you go to bed until midnight and wake up before 7:30, you get the most accurate temperature readings. Many women found that digital thermometers require a very short time to measure the temperature, which facilitates the procedure for its measurement before the rise. Measure the temperature with the mouth. Armpit and ear temperature is not sufficiently accurate for purposes such as planning pregnancy.

And finally, if after 18 days from the last slimy discharge your menstrual period has not yet started, it probably means that you are pregnant.

It’s not a secret, that age has a direct impact on fertility. Women’s fertility begins to decline after thirty-five years, as a result of various factors which include the reduction in the quantity and condition of eggs, increasing the likelihood of medical problems, such as: diabetes and reduction of sexual relationships.

Realizing what fertility is, you can increase your chances of impregnation.
There are several methods to determine your fertile days (or time of your ovulation). Find the one that best suits you, and then use it regularly.

- The method of the natural cycle and ovulation calculator.

Both these methods help to determine the period of fertility, using the interval between menstrual cycles (usually 28-30 days). In order to detect the time of fertility, you subtract fourteen days from the length of your cycle (for example, if your cycle is thirty days from the start of one menstruation to the next, taking away fourteen of thirty, you get sixteen). This number is the approximate day of ovulation and the time when it is the highest probability for impregnation. Calculate from the first day of your menstrual period.

- Improvement of sexual relations for impregnation.

There are several ways to increase your chances of impregnation, depending on when and what sexual relations you will have:

1. The frequency. Daily or rare (less than every 10-14 days) sexual relations are likely to be detrimental for sperm count.

2. The situation during sexual intercourse. Some experts recommend that a woman remained in the supine position for about twenty minutes after intercourse to reduce the outflow of sperm from the vagina, however, there is no evidence that it improves impregnation.

3. Sexual pleasure. It turns out that woman who experience orgasm during intercourse, is able to get pregnant faster.

4. Cervical mucus. Composition and color of cervical mucus changes throughout the monthly cycle.

5. Kits for ovulation determining. These tests detect an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) 2-3 days before ovulation. Each test gives you a positive or negative result on any given day.

6. Changes during the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle occurs as a result of complex interactions of hormones.

From all this I just make a one conclusion, if you want your baby to be desirable, take a time, think it over with your man and only then start your pleasurable wok.

Every month, practically at the same time many of us feel disgusting. The world seems gray and hostile, but the feel isn’t even worth to speak … They say that in such moments, the beautiful ladies become angry and irritable … furies.

It is this mythological image aptly conveys the woman’s condition before the next menstruation cycle. And all the subsequent trouble specialists indicate with the term “premenstrual syndrome – PMS”, condition that affects 30-50% of women.

Causes of PMS symptoms

PMS symptoms appear 10-12 days before the next menstruation. If in the evening you were ok, but in the morning suddenly lifeless locks of hair hanging down, chin poured acne, swollen eyelids, you feel dizzy, pain in the chest and feet, nauseated, rest assured – you’re ahead “of the monthly women’s ailments “. These unpleasant symptoms disappear immediately after the onset of menstruation or during the first days.  Especially hard PMS occurs in women over 35 years.

In addition to the discomfort and pain, a set of psycho-emotional symptoms doctors seemed so significant that in 1994 the American Psychiatric Association felt it necessary to add PMS in the list of serious depressive disorders.

PMS is very unpleasant illness. And, perhaps, many women have noticed that during the PMS they suddenly increase appetite. They want to eat constantly, and it does not matter what to eat, just to finally get enough. But after a couple of hours, even after a hearty meal, the stomach is again beginning to stick to the back of starvation. So, what should we do in this case?

Nutritionists advise anyone who feels an uncontrollable hunger while PMS to eat as much as the body wants … But there are “right” foods that women’s need for calcium, magnesium, and vitamins E and B6. After all, these substances the body doesn’t have enough, because thanks to this, while PMS woman feel headaches, chest pain, and swelling…

Dietary recommendations to reduce pain while PMS

1. In order to balance your hormone levels decrease intake of saturated fats
Remember, that red meat and dairy products contain high amounts of saturated fats, which can cause the increase of estrogen level in the blood, thus making imbalance in hormone levels and this can lead to mood changes including irritability and depression.  Also, be attentive with trans-fatty-acids in food, because such food becomes to be difficult for the liver to process.

2. Manage blood sugar levels, consuming less sugar
Eating a lot of sugar you make processing estrogen more difficult for the body, thus increasing blood sugar level. This can lead to high insulin levels and retention of sodium in the body which can cause swelling in hands and feet.

3. Control salt intake in order to reduce bloating or swelling
If you have problems with bloating or swelling of your hands and ankles try to decrease salt intake. Keep in mind that processed foods contain large amounts of sodium. But don’t forget, while you reduce your salt intake; at this moment you should to increase your potassium intake (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains).

4. Eat as more vegetables as possible, it can balance your hormones
As you know, vegetables contain lots of natural fiber that binds to estrogen and aids in its elimination. If you replace the meat and saturated fats in your diet with more vegetables you will be able to balance hormones, besides you don’t have to worry about overweight.

5. To alleviate PMS symptoms you should decrease the caffeine intake
You will find caffeine in such products as tea (black and green) and chocolate. Caffeine affects mood in particular and also has an effect on breast tenderness and fibrocystic breast disease.

In relieving PMS symptoms great roles also play vitamins and minerals. In order to choose the right vitamin complex you should consult with naturopathic physician.  Magnesium, potassium and zinc may be recommended in the form of whole foods or as supplements to correct deficiencies when these occur.

In any case, we are what we eat!  So, watch out your diet and thus you’ll avoid a lot of health problems, including PMS.

When you come to the gynecologist, he always asks you what your menstrual cycle is. Many patients believe that the menstrual cycle – these are the days when you have a bloody discharge from the genital tract. In fact it’s just a menses. A menstrual cycle – is a time period from one menstrual period to another and it is from the first day of the last menstrual period before the first day of the next (represents normal 23-35 days)

In addition to the cycle duration is very important it’s regularity. Ideally, from month to month duration of your individual cycle does not change. Fluctuations are allowed within 3 days. If more – this is pathological. There are also important blood amount and your subjective feelings in this period.
If you paid attention to the changing nature of menstruation, there is reason to see a doctor because this may be the first sign of some disease.

First menstruation (menses) is the most striking evidence of the ensuing sexual maturity. Most of the first menstruation (menses) begins at the age of 14-15 years. However, the full development of the girl’s body reaches an average of 18 years.

So, what is it menstrual cycle and how does it work? Consider the standard 28-day cycle, a healthy woman’s menstrual cycle has 2 phases: with 28-days cycle on the first phase 14 days on the second phase.

In the first 14 days, the women are preparing for a possible pregnancy. One part of the brain called the pituitary produces two main hormones that affect the menstrual cycle – follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH).

Under the influence of FSH in a mature egg from the ovaries, the uterus is thickening of the inner shell in order to accept a fertilized egg. The main hormone secreted in the blood – estrogen. It contributes to the fact that a woman looks good, active, and cheerful. Body temperature – is normal.

Two weeks later there occurs ovulation – exit of mature egg from the ovary. This process occurs due to sharp increases in blood levels of luteinizing hormone, which reaches its peak. If the egg becomes fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the uterine wall and a fetus will begin to develop. The ovulation phase typically occurs in 14 days before the start of the next period.

At this moment, some women experience slight pulling sensation in the abdomen. Very seldom, they may notice bloody discharge from the genital tract.

The fourth and final phase is the premenstrual phase. If the egg is not fertilized, the thickened lining of the uterus is shed and a new menstrual cycle starts all over again.

The body temperature may be somewhat higher (up to 37.0). At this time, on-site release eggs in the ovary under the influence of LH matures corpus luteum, which, in the case of pregnancy, will ensure its preservation.

As a rule, women stop having menses at 50, when they reached menopause (stage when a woman is no able to ovulate or produce eggs, due to this she can no longer become pregnant). Like any other health processes, menopause occurs differently in different woman, this all is rather individual, so, noticing any changes, please turn to doctor!

PMS is a complex disease influencing virtually all the systems of the body. However, PMS has the greatest effect on the very emotional condition of ours. You are sure to have noticed that few days before the cycle started you got touchy and angry, often went wrong with your family or took everything to heart. As for me, these days I cry as many tears as I don’t manage to cry over the whole month. I cry at the slightest opportunity. I can be touched by a dramatic moment in a movie, sad love song or even a homeless puppy on the street. And my vulnerability can turn into aggression in a second, that’s when I start making a row with the first person coming in my way. That is why for me a perfect PMS medication is the one that not only helps to get rid of pain in the belly and breast, but also improves my emotional condition. Prozac has positive calming effect on the nervous system and helps to return it to its stable condition.

Prozac is the very medication that brings relief during those few days before the cycle starts, when life becomes hell not only for me, but for my family as well. Indeed, this medication helps to see things positively and not to be distressed by trifles. Besides, Prozac calms the nerves down, so I stopped going wrong with my family and can adequately control my emotions. This medication removes the symptoms of depression, calms the body down, and makes me feel positive. Of course, Prozac does not give you the feeling of euphoria or excitement. It’s just that when I take it I feel calm and confident both before the periods start and during the menstruation or after it ends.

Well, Prozac has been talked about for long. In the USA over the last few decades this medication is taken by every twentieth person! Naturally, they prescribe it not only for PMS, but for other problems with nervous system as well. But the health professionals do not have the united opinion on it. Most of them are prone to thinking that it is absolutely safe, while some doctors claim that constant stimulation of serotonin generation (which is the major effect of Prozac) is not good for human body. Generally, when I take Prozac I found myself totally comfortable. The only problem provoked by this medication lies in periodical sleep disorders. Sometimes I felt sleepy during almost the whole day, while later on I could not fall asleep till dawn. When I started to have these symptoms, I reduced the dose of Prozac and the sleep disorders stopped.

To find a good PMS medication is not an easy thing to do, so over the last years I have tried dozens of pills. After the light pain killers and common vitamins had helped me, my gynecologist recommended starting serious hormone treatment. This is how I discovered Danazol. This medication regulates metabolic processes and it is used in treatment of various female diseases, including, naturally, the most widespread problem of women called PMS.

Danazol is absolutely perfect for those who suffer from breast pain during PMS. So it is rarely prescribed to those who have other symptoms of PMS. Usually I started to feel breast pain three to four days before the beginning of the cycle, so this issue was quite serious. I took Danazol for only few days, and completely forgot about the breast pain. What’s more, this medication helped me to relieve the pain in my belly during the first days of menstruation. However, my gynecologist told me to keep strict watch over my well-being and to call her at the first symptoms of side effects.

Altogether, side effects of Danazol are simply terrifying. I started thinking of giving it up as soon as I read the instruction. The health professionals state that Danazol can provoke headache, nausea, and depression as well. Besides, there also is a “classical set” of side effects common for hormone medication, starting from excess weight and acne, and ending with breast reduction, excessive sweating and excess body hair. Luckily, I didn’t have all of these dreadful symptoms. However, I can not tell you why I didn’t. Maybe it was because I took Denazol not for long, because I had to give up the medication due to frequent headaches. Or maybe the components of Denazol simply don’t provoke rejection in my case, for hormone medication is always associated with individual treatment. But even after I stopped taking it, the effect of Denazol did not vanish completely. Of course, pain in the belly during the first days of menstruation appeared again, but the breast pain doesn’t bother me before the cycle beginning any more.

So, from my own experience I would recommend Denazol to those women who suffer from breast pain. However, those under treatment of diabetes should be extremely careful with this medication, because it has specific reaction to insulin.