Several symptoms can inform someone if they are about to have a period and can include spotting, pain or cramping, bloating, swollen or tender breasts, acne, and mood changes. PMS usually appears the week before and goes away a few days after a period begins.
Overview. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression. It's estimated that as many as 3 of every 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of premenstrual syndrome.
“Shifting hormones in the days before your period, as well as changes in your brain chemicals, can affect both your mood and sleep,” Dr. Kallen explains, noting that levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood, often decline along with falling estrogen levels.
When an egg released during ovulation goes unfertilized, progesterone levels begin to fall. This powerful hormone controls a lot in your body, including chemicals in the brain such as serotonin. A drop in this so-called “happy chemical” is a contributing factor in the emotional swings that can come before your period.
The lining of the uterus, or endometrium, prepares each month for the implantation of an embryo. This preparation occurs under the influence of estrogen and progesterone from the ovary. If no pregnancy develops, the endometrium is shed as a menstrual period, about fourteen days after ovulation.
Discharge that appears before a period is usually white. However, if a certain type of discharge persists throughout the month, it may be a good idea to see a doctor. Consult a doctor if any of the following symptoms are present: lumpy or frothy discharge.
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.
A significantly greater number of cycles (70.4%) commenced during the night or in the first 4 h after rising, compared with later in the day. In a large proportion of these (29 out of 76), blood was noted to be present on waking, menstruation thus having begun at some time during the hours of sleep.
A milky white vaginal discharge often appears just before and after a period. But, there are other possible causes, such as a bacterial or yeast infection. Healthy discharge can range in color and texture.
Creamy discharge
Some refer to this creamy and clear discharge as 'ovulation discharge' as it's known to occur right before ovulation. In some cases, this discharge will appear right before your period; both cases are completely common [5].
This is when you are most fertile and most likely to get pregnant. You might also experience a brownish discharge just after your period ends. "It's most common to get white discharge three to five days before your period comes.
Clear and stretchy — This is “fertile” mucous and means you're ovulating. Clear and watery — This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising. Yellow or green — May indicate an infection, especially if it's thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odor.
It is common for discharge to be cloudy or white several days before a period starts. Cramps and white discharge could, therefore, indicate a late period rather than pregnancy. A period may occasionally come later than usual, though a complete absence of a period will require investigation.
After ovulation, your cervical mucus thickens or dries up, then you eventually get your period. However, if you conceived at ovulation, you may still produce some cervical mucus. This can indicate to some women that they might have conceived. In other cases, implantation bleeding occurs.
In addition to spotting, you may notice a milky white discharge coming from the vagina, another one of the pregnancy symptoms before missed period. Right after conception, the vaginal walls begin to thicken, and the elevated growth of these cells lining your vagina causes the white discharge.
Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period, meaning the first day of full flow (spotting doesn't count). During this time, the uterus sheds its lining from the previous cycle. Between days 1 – 5 of your cycle, new follicles (sacs of fluid containing eggs) begin to develop within your ovaries.
If you think you're having period cramps with no period and your cycle is late — take a pregnancy test. Early symptoms of pregnancy can mimic premenstrual symptoms, and the process of implantation, where the embryo attaches to the uterus, also can feel like period cramps.
In some cases, your period symptoms may not be period symptoms at all. You might actually be pregnant. A lot of the early symptoms of pregnancy are similar to those you experience when you have your period. For example, breast tenderness, cramping, fatigue, headaches, and fluctuating mood.
Discharge helps cleanse the vagina of unwanted substances and microorganisms. Because of this, it's normal to see lots of creamy white discharge a few days before your period. After your period, you may also experience some creamy pink discharge.
When periods are late, many women will have some mild symptoms similar to early pregnancy, including mild uterine cramping. The breasts may feel heavier and fuller or be tender to the touch. Nausea, constipation, mood swings, dizziness and fatigue may be experienced.
Towards the end of your period, you should experience a decrease in the volume, or amount, of menstrual blood until it stops all together. You might also notice a change in color towards the end of your cycle and see brown period blood.
No matter how light your flow is, or even if there is no flow, bacteria can build up. Changing your pad every 3 or 4 hours (more if your period is heavy) is good hygiene and helps prevent bad odors. This is especially true if you'll be playing sports or rushing around from class to class.
Unfortunately, no matter how much we feel that we may know our bodies, pregnancy cannot be self-diagnosed. The only way to know whether or not you're pregnant is through a pregnancy test.