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Frequent Menstrual Cycles Symptoms

Menstrual cycle symptoms can affect a woman's emotional, physical and even spiritual well-being. A woman's hormone level fluctuates causing a tug-of-war between joy and sadness, happiness and anger. Women also experience cramps and being bloated. And some world religions view the menstrual cycle as a time of uncleanness, causing women to feel spiritually out of order. Symptoms associated with menstrual cycles may only last a week, but the effects they have on a woman's life can last all month. What are some of the more common symptoms associated with menstrual cycles and what can women do to remedy them?

  1. Premenstrual Syndrome

    • Being the most common symptom of a woman's menstrual cycle, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the symptom that women need to know the most about. According to FamilyDoctor.org, an online medical resource for women, PMS occurs in the two weeks before a woman's menstrual cycle. It is caused by the changes in hormones in a woman's body and the degree to which it affects the body, mind and spirit is unique to the woman.

    Misconceptions

    • A common misconception with menstrual cycle symptoms is that you are alone. That is not true at all. In fact, FamilyDoctor.org states that more than 90 percent of all menstruating women are affected by some sort of menstrual syndrome and that 85 percent are affected by PMS. Most women experience mild discomfort associated with the syndrome and most do not need medication to help with hormones or physical pain.

    Frequent Symptoms

    • Some of the most common symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle include acne, tiredness, trouble sleeping, appetite changes, breast swelling, bloating, anxiety and depression. If these symptoms appear to worsen, or the menstrual cycle is absent for several months, consult a doctor immediately. Symptoms associated with untreated menstrual cycle disorders include uterine bleeding. The two most common types of uterine bleeding are amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea. Amenorrhea occurs when menstruation has not occurred by age 16. Oligomenorrhea occurs when the menstrual cycle lasts more than 35 days.

    Treatment

    • No single treatment seems to work for every woman but some general ways to lessen the effect of PMS includes regular exercise, avoiding salty and sugary foods, limiting caffeine and not smoking. PMS affects most women who have a menstrual cycle, but the symptoms go away when the menstrual cycle does at menopause.

      Also, WomensHealth.gov says that increasing the amount of folic acid in one's diet can help curb the effects of menstrual cycle symptoms. Also, calcium supplements with Vitamin D can help keep bones strong and ease any discomfort associated with PMS.

    Warning

    • If you are not experiencing your menstrual cycle on a monthly basis, consult your doctor. Also see him if your symptoms start becoming more severe. You may be suffering from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD. Only about 4 percent of all women are affected by PMDD but there are treatments out there for those suffering. According to AAFP.org, serotoninergic antidepressants such as fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline and clomipramine are effective in treating PMDD.

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