Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS generally occurs before a period and ends once menstruation begins. The most common symptoms include abdominal cramps, a bloated abdomen, headaches, breast tenderness, tiredness, mood swings, food-cravings, anxiety, weight gain, pain in the joints and muscles, difficulty concentrating, nausea and depression.
Your symptoms are caused by the change in hormonal balance, changes in levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood states, may also contribute to PMS. Certain aspects of diet also appear to effect PMS. Low levels of vitamins and minerals are responsible for some symptoms, and salty foods may contribute to PMS by causing water retention. Alcohol and caffeine may also contribute by negatively effecting ones mood and energy level.
The best ways to treat PMS without medication are a hot water bottle on the abdomen which can treat cramps, and regular exercise which will reduce some symptoms such as fatigue and depression. Reducing table salt, refined sugar and caffeine in ones diet may help prevent PMS as well. Further on the subject of diets, PMS is linked to a deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in the body, so eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals , or taking vitamin and calcium supplements will helps limit the symptoms of PMS as well. If you want to use some form of medication you should first see your physician.
Keeping Clean
A pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman when she is menstruating, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from her vagina. These pads are not to be confused with generally higher absorbency incontinence pads, which are worn by men or women who have urinary incontinence problems or experience stress incontinence. Menstrual pads may be used by some people for this purpose.
Panty liners, also called panty shields, are similar to pads but are shorter and thinner. Panty liners are worn on very light days, or as added protection in combination with a tampon.
A tampon is a cylindrical mass of absorbent material, primarily utilized as a feminine hygiene product. Tampons are designed to be easily inserted into the vagina during menstruation and absorb the user’s menstrual flow.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
TSS is a disease caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium and has been linked to the use of tampons. While rare, TSS can be fatal. About half of all cases occur in women using tampons and the initial symptoms are similar to the flu. With Toxic shock syndrome you may experience diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, bloodshot eyes, sore throat, sunburn-like rash and sudden high fever. One to two weeks after the initial symptoms appear the skin may begin to flake, particularly on the palms and the soles of the feet.
If you experience any of these symptoms while using tampons or shortly after using a tampon, see a doctor immediately and if you are still using a tampon when the symptoms appear, make sure to remove it immediately. To avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome, one should not leave the same tampon in for more than eight hours at a time, and should use the tampon with the lowest level of absorbency necessary for her flow. With treatment, patients generally recover from TSS within a few weeks.
I missed my Period why am I "late"
The most common reason for missing a period is pregnancy, other causes of amenorrhea (missing your period) include breast feeding, extreme weight loss, eating disorders, over-exercising, stress, hormonal problems, and problems with the reproductive organs.
Skipping or missing a period does not necessarily indicate pregnancy or a disorder. They tend to be very irregular for the first few years and may become irregular again as the woman approaches menopause.
Disorders Related to Menstruation
Sometimes painful periods indicate a disease or condition. One such condition is uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that can grow in the muscles of the uterus and sometimes cause pain during menstruation. Fibroids may require treatment if they cause pain or heavy bleeding, but they often cause no problems and therefore require no treatment. Uterine fibroids tend to shrink after menopause.
Another disease that can cause painful cramps is endometriosis. This condition causes the endometrium to grow somewhere outside of the uterus, usually in the abdominal cavity. When the body sheds the endometrium each month, the fluid has no way to exit the body. In addition to cramps, endometriosis can cause irritation and scar tissue in the area surrounding the endometrium, irregular bleeding, infertility, and pain during or after sex.
