Three common signs a woman is about to get her period are menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, and mood swings. These symptoms are part of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and occur due to fluctuating hormone levels.
How do you know when the first menstrual period will start?
The most common symptoms of PMS include:
There are many physical and emotional changes that can signal that your period is on the way, including tender breasts, mood changes, and tiredness. While we all experience symptoms differently, most women start to notice these symptoms between one and two weeks before they get their period [1].
Signs your period is coming, known as PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome), often include physical and emotional changes like bloating, tender breasts, mood swings, fatigue, headaches, acne, cravings, and cramps, typically starting a week or two before your period begins and subsiding a few days after. These hormonal shifts cause symptoms such as breast soreness (due to enlarged ducts/glands), abdominal bloating, muscle pain, and skin breakouts, alongside irritability, sadness, or anxiety, with food cravings often peaking due to serotonin drops.
A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone , which cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up.
Most girls start their periods when they're about 12, but they can start as early as 8, so it's important to talk to girls from an early age to make sure they're prepared. Respond to questions or opportunities as they arise and do not be embarrassed. Periods are natural.
Genetics and environment both play a role in triggering menarche: Heredity: Your genes influence when you get your first period. People commonly get their periods when their mother did. Hormones: Hormones in your brain and your sex organs regulate your menstrual cycle and play a role in menarche, too.
Roughly every month, many women deal with cramps, headaches, bloating, irritability and fatigue — or any combination of these and other symptoms that can occur before a woman's menstrual cycle. For some, these symptoms are a fact of life, and they've never thought of them not existing.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of symptoms that many women get about a week or two before their period. Most women, over 90%, say they get some premenstrual symptoms, such as bloating, headaches, and moodiness.
Typical symptoms before your period (like mild cramps, bloating, and mood swings) are common and usually don't often interfere with daily life. PMS is a more severe form of premenstrual symptoms that can significantly impact mood, energy levels, and overall well-being.
A stress period looks like menstrual changes due to hormonal disruption, featuring spotting, early/late/missed periods, heavier/lighter flow, longer duration, bigger clots, more cramping, worse PMS, and potential loss of libido, alongside physical signs like headaches, fatigue, muscle tension (neck/back pain), jaw clenching, and digestive issues, all stemming from elevated cortisol and disrupted reproductive hormones.
These symptoms may occur due to hormonal fluctuations, stress, birth control use, or after a hysterectomy. Some individuals experience phantom periods during perimenopause or due to underlying health conditions like PCOS or endometriosis. While these symptoms feel like a real period, there is no menstrual flow.
People may have no discharge or drier discharge, which is sticky and cloudy, during and after ovulation. This can last for around 11–14 days before a period starts.
8 Safe and Effective Ways to Induce Menstruation
What are common symptoms of menstruation?
What Is Abnormal Menstruation?
Most commonly, especially in girls, precocious puberty is due to the brain sending signals earlier than it should. There is no other underlying medical problem or trigger. This also can often run in families. Less often, precocious puberty stems from a more serious problem, such as a tumor or trauma.
Let's take a closer look at key nutrients: Vitamin C: Known to promote estrogen production and uterine contractions. Beta-Carotene: Found in orange-colored foods like carrots and papayas, it supports hormonal balance. Magnesium: Helps relax the uterine muscles and reduce stress, which can delay periods.
Precocious puberty symptoms include: Breast growth and first period in girls. Testicle and penis growth, facial hair and deeper voice in boys.
Pubic hair development (“pubarche”) usually happens 1 to 2 years before the first period. The average age for pubarche is 11.6 years old.
Usually, a first period is preceded by other puberty symptoms, such as the growth of pubic hair, breast development, and body shape changes. A first period may be light or heavy right away, and period blood can range in color from brown to dark red.
Types and causes of early puberty
It occurs when the brain releases hormones called gonadotropins earlier than is developmentally typical. Gonadotropins tell the reproductive organs, such as the ovaries or testes, to release hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.