Menstrual Disorder/ PMS

What is PMS? It’s a premenstrual syndrome whose symptoms are experienced in women weeks before the menstrual cycle. Symptoms can vary from month to month. Most common symptoms:

• mood swings
• feeling upset, anxious, or irritable
• tiredness or trouble sleeping
• bloating or tummy pain
• breast tenderness
• headaches
• spotty skin
• greasy hair
• changes in appetite and sex drive

What can you do to help?

• exercise regularly
• eat a healthy, balanced diet – you may find that eating frequent smaller meals (every 2-3 hours) suits you better than eating 3 larger meals a day
• get plenty of sleep – 7 to 8 hours is recommended
• try reducing your stress by doing yoga or meditation
• take painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease the pain
• keep a diary of your symptoms for at least 2 to 3 menstrual cycles – you can take this to a gynecology appointment

  What not to do:

• do not smoke
• do not drink too much alcohol

These can worsen the symptoms.   See a gynecologist if:

• things you can do to help are not working
• your symptoms are affecting your daily life