PMS
The three most dreaded letters in the alphabet and in
womanhood. But, what exactly is PMS?
Well, it stands for premenstrual syndrome and it's really not all that
bad. PMS is the symptoms that women get anywhere from 3 days to
14 days before the onset of their periods. You can think of PMS as a
sign that Aunt Flo is on her way!
Symptoms may include:
- headaches, backaches, food cravings (Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!) and irritability.
But wait, there's more:
- tender breasts, bloating and general tiredness.
Never fear, symptoms quickly disappear once your period has begun.
Another sign is cramps in the lower part of the body. Most women do have cramps during their periods, some worse than others. Although cramps are uncomfortable, they don't mean that anything is wrong. They usually happen at the beginning of a period then taper off. Phew!
There are many ways to deal with PMS. As you read on, you'll learn how nutrition and exercise play a big part in controlling PMS symptoms. And, you'll discover that there are also a number of over-the-counter MIDOL formulas that help many PMS symptoms.
Biology of your Period
During puberty, girls do go through many changes on the outside, but the biggest changes happen on the inside. Basically, your reproductive organs kick into action. All women are born with reproductive organs which are necessary to reproduce, which means to create babies. Just as everyone goes through puberty at different times, girls start their periods at different ages. A girl can get her first period as young as 8 or 9 or as late as 16 or 17, but most will start somewhere between 11 and 14.
So, here's what happens:
- The scientific name for a period is menstruation or menses. The menstrual cycle starts once a month (or every 21-28 days) when hormones cause an egg in the ovary to mature. These same hormones are what cause you to feel somewhat irritable and tired.
- The ripened egg moves into the fallopian tubes and travels down toward the uterus.
- Meanwhile, the uterus develops a thick cushion of blood-filled tissue (in preparation for a fertilized egg and eventually a baby). But, if the egg has not been fertilized, the thick lining of the uterus begins to shed (hello cramps) and flows out of the vagina for the next two to nine days, although the average is generally three to five days. This is what is called a menstrual period, or just a period. Don't freak out if the blood doesn't look like blood from a cut. It will probably be darker, thicker and more brownish in color.
- Don't worry if your period only comes every once in a while in the beginning. An irregular period at this stage is completely normal. But, it is a good idea to keep track of your periods, just in case. A really easy way to do this is to track your cycle.