Periods are unpredictable because Aunt Flo loves making surprise visits. The better we can anticipate our periods, the more effectively we can plan our schedules around them. Thankfully, our bodies tend to give us little hints of our period’s imminent arrival. Such signs of a period coming can encourage us to take precautions such as bringing our period products to the office or classroom to be prepared. While these warning signs may not be the most pleasant, you’ll be thankful for them when you save yourself from a period-related accident or two with the foresight that these signs bring you.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual syndrome, more commonly referred to as “PMS” is the biggest warning sign of your period approaching, and it affects you both physically and emotionally. You may experience various symptoms of PMS all at once, including ones that aren’t on this list, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Lack of focus
- Agitation
- Headaches
- Bloating
This is due to a ton of hormonal changes that cause mood swings and other emotional issues.
Acne Breakouts
A particularly stress-inducing syndrome is the acne breakouts that don’t seem to go away no matter how good your skincare routine is. These period-induced breakouts are known as “cyclical acne”, which are common for women to experience before their period. This is because of the hormonal changes that occur when your period is approaching, which increase sebum production in your body. This clogs your face and results in an oily, spotty face right before your period, as well as greasy hair, another frequently-experienced PMS symptom.
Abdominal Cramps
Most women are likely to have experienced the ever-so-familiar acne of menstrual cramps, days before their periods even start. The uterus contracts as a reaction to your body’s hormone levels changing, causing painful pressure on your abdominal area. Unfortunately, in many cases, the pain doesn’t stop at the abdomen, extending to one’s lower back and other surrounding muscles instead.
Tender Breasts
Just before your period, you may notice a change in your breasts. Compared to how your breasts usually feel, right before your period, your breasts can feel:
- Heavy
- Sore
- Tender
- Swollen
- Aching
The rise in estrogen and progesterone in the body causes your breast ducts and milk glands to enlarge and swell, leading to the swollen sensation in your breasts that hints at your period starting soon.
Fatigue
Feeling unnaturally exhausted? This could also be a sign of your period nearing! Some signs would be feeling sluggish for no rhyme or reason, or wanting to rest more often than usual. The hormonal fluctuations that occur before your period can lead to a drop in certain chemicals in your brain such as serotonin. Serotonin is known as the energy-saving hormone, while also being a natural mood stabilizer. Hence, this explains the mood swings and your energy levels lowering when your period is drawing near.
Need to stock up on period products before your period arrives soon? We recommend using SNUCS®, our secure and odor-sealed pouches that make feminine product disposal more efficient and less embarrassing!
