Not All Premenstrual Symptoms Indicate Good Menstrual Health

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Premenstrual symptoms are not normal for all women but are for many. However, not all types of premenstrual symptoms are normal or indicate good menstrual health. The purpose of this article is to explore the different types of premenstrual symptoms and provide tips on how to manage them.

The menstrual cycle is a physical and emotional rollercoaster for many women. It can be a time of extreme highs and lows, with some days feeling like you have nothing to worry about and other days feeling as if the period pain is too much to bear.

We all know that women’s moods and emotions can change before and during menstruation (premenstrual and menstrual phases). Sometimes it may be hard to tell if these are normal premenstrual symptoms. The mood changes that happen before menstruation aren’t always a sign of good menstrual health. There are many other causes for these symptoms, so it’s important to learn about the different types and how they can affect you.

Premenstrual symptoms can sometimes be a symptom of other things going on in your life, but if you’re experiencing the following symptoms, this article will give you a few tips to help relieve them.

What is Premenstrual Syndrome?

Women may experience a wide range of symptoms that can be annoying, frustrating, and painful. The most common symptom is menstrual cramps, which can be mild to severe. Symptoms can also include nausea, headaches, back pain, sleep disturbances, bloating, breast tenderness, pain, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and depression. Women who experience certain symptoms could have premenstrual syndrome or PMS.

Identifying the different types of PMS

Premenstrual symptoms can cause a number of different problems. The most common symptom is bloating, which is simply due to the accumulation of gas and fluid in the body. Some women experience mood swings and irritability, which can be related to changes in hormone levels and stress levels in the body. Other symptoms include breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue, appetite changes, constipation, food cravings, back pain, and joint pain. There are also other symptoms that are more serious such as depression or anxiety.

How does PMS affect different people?

Premenstrual Syndrome is a disorder that affects many women and can cause a variety of symptoms. The severity of PMS differs from woman to woman and may range from mild to extreme.

Premenstrual mood changes are not normal for all women but are for many. However, not all types of premenstrual mood changes are normal or indicate good health. typically mild and do not really disrupt your daily activities, it is best to describe them as ‘normal (pre)menstrual changes’ (rather than ‘symptoms’ or ‘PMS’).

Altered moods and increased irritability

Menstrual health is often defined by the frequency, duration, and intensity of premenstrual symptoms. Some women experience no premenstrual symptoms at all. These women are said to have “good menstrual health.”

It can have many different symptoms, including mood swings, fatigue, headaches, vomiting, and tender breasts. Other signs of PMS are irritability or anger, depression, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, bloating in the abdomen area, and breast swelling.

The assertion that all pre-menstrual symptoms demonstrate good or normal menstrual health is false. Certain symptoms, such as mood swings, may not be indicative of anything other than a bad day.

Premenstrual mood changes that are very severe and accompanied by severe bouts of crying or depressive suicidal thoughts may be a sign that you’re experiencing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), one of the most common causes of severe emotional and physical symptoms during menstruation. So if you’re experiencing them and they last for more than a day or two, it’s worth talking to your doctor about it. Read more about it here – Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder- A Depression Caused Hormonally in Women

What are some other warning signs for unhealthy or abnormal premenstrual symptoms?

severe abdominal (period) pain
severe muscle/ joint pain
excessive loss of appetite
insomnia
decreased energy levels
bouts of fainting
heavy bleeding, and blood loss of more than 80ml (approx. 160ml total fluid is lost per period)
a cycle that lasts for more than 10 days
painful excessive acne breakout

How to manage certain symptoms like period pain and cramps

1. Taking anti-inflammatory medications or analgesics can help with the pain

2. Omega 3 oils every day is very beneficial for good menstrual health

3. Dietary supplements like seeds and iron-rich foods and a good fiber-rich diet can help.

4. Exercising regularly and moving your body with light cardio workouts like walking and low-intensity workouts or body stretching can help alleviate symptoms.

These are some coping mechanisms that may show improvement in overall health and wellbeing during a menstrual cycle. But if these approaches do not help with the symptoms, it is better to seek medical intervention.

For more on Menstrual Health by Infano, click here.

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As the African saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child.” If one goes by the meaning of the proverb it implies that the right way of bringing up children is to let them grow amongst the community, let them interact with society and learn from its experiences. But in today’s pandemic era of all the restrictions and lockdown, the proverb takes a whole new meaning. The only meaning which resonates with me right now is that motherhood and parenting is not easy and not a one-person or one family’s job. It takes all of your family, friends and colleagues to raise your baby and trying to do this alone is hell difficult.So, it may not be completely wrong to say that, “It takes a village to raise a parent.”

Let’s be real, motherhood is the most beautiful yet can be the most trying time in a woman’s life. Postpartum depression, hormonal changes, body issues, and the overwhelming needs of a newborn takes a huge toll on both the physical and mental health of new mothers. Every day comes with the need of some new parenting wisdom which can be taxing for new parents especially mothers when she doesn’t have her tribe to rely on.

I remember when my aunts were pregnant and when their due date approached near, how my mom and grandmother used to begin making preparations with the postnatal traditional ‘laddoos’, a masseuse was hired for both the babies and new mothers and they made sure they new mother get required time off from the kitchen and other chores and gets ample rest. Their ancient wisdom worked wonders while treating minor problems in kids like colic, latching issues and breastfeeding.

But this pandemic has disintegrated the village for the new mothers. They can’t travel to their families and vice versa as well as can’t get to the vicinity of even their neighbours.

How has virtual village emerged as the biggest strength of new moms?

“Years back, as a new mom, having an uncontrollable toddler, I even found myself helpless sometimes. That’s when the community, the sisterhood made me understand that I was not alone and it’s going to be alright. Women are emotional beings, we just want to be heard. We need a safe space where we can vent out our feelings, where we can seek answers, where we can talk about our issues. Where we do not feel judged or harassed. Where we do not feel discriminated against. This is where the community and sisterhood plays a big role. It is where it’s so important to have a tribe around.”, says Preetha Nagarajan, founder of an exclusive women’s community, ‘Wonder Moms’.

Preetha Nagarajan sharing the journey of her online community with Infano.

Virtual villages or tribes are online groups on social media platforms or apps of mothers who share their experiences and worries about parenting and even personal care or professional demands. Sometimes, it’s easier to share your concerns with stranger women who are connected to you through the common bond of motherhood than the ones near to you as there is no fear of judgement or bias. Moreover, all the moms going through a particular phase in parenting, get a platform to come under one umbrella. It not only comforts them with various solutions but also instils an emotion of solidarity, the reassurance of not being alone.

Women are sharing their journey of motherhood with each other.

There are online communities for almost every phase of motherhood from breastfeeding to traditional weaning to a healthy diet for kids to mothers resuming their careers after a gap.I have found comfort in some of the toughest days of early parenting through the online community, most of the time just by reading the various comments on the relevant topic. Although, there is no one formula for raising a child and each situation and each child needs a different routine of care, so it will be wiser to carefully implement the internet wisdom.

Create your village.

Being connected with women who share with you common roles, responsibilities, goals and purpose be it concerned only with motherhood is empowering and motivating. I have found wonderful suggestions on buying stainless steel milk bottles, reusable cloth diapers for my toddler to planning easy healthy meals for her to dealing with the struggles of the weaning phase to easily potty train her and that too backed by the amazing amount of research put by other moms.

The wonderful aspect of an online community is that sometimes a panel of moderators or members also have experts, gynaecologists, child psychologists, lactation consultants and paediatricians who offer suggestions based on scientific findings and rationale.

Some of the wonderful groups for mothers on Facebook are –

Wondermoms, Brown Mommies Unite, Breastfeeding Support For Indian Mothers, Traditional Weaning (Introducing Solids) India and Fittr Moms.There are also, communities for kids born in a particular month, e.g. October Moms 2015, July Mom’s, 2017.

Infano Care is one such platform that stays with you throughout your journey of periods, pregnancy and parenting. It gives a platform to various subjects which are significant but are either ignored, hushed or are considered taboo. It’s a comfort zone for women across the ages to read and get knowledge on subjects of their interest , be it menstural cycle, irregular period,early pregnancy, women’s health issue, femisim and women empowerment.

Internet boom has brought your tribe to your screen gateway. Build your own village. Choose your team. Empower each other. Our children deserve their own villages.