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Weird signs your period is about to start

Health

For most women there is one thing that tells them it's almost that time of the month - stomach cramps. Those horrible pains can last for days and apart taking painkillers and having a hot water bottle on your lower abdomen, there isn't much we can do about them. But it turns out cramps aren't the only tell-tale sign your period is about to start.

Here are weird signs that your period is about to begin:

Migraines

Lots of women suffer from bad migraines in the lead up to their period, and the pain can even be worse than cramps. Migraines are associated with the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle ,estrogen and progesterone. According to official guidelines from the American Headache Society, the window for "menstrual migraines" is between two days before a period starts and three days after. If it gets really bad, can take painkillers.

Weird poos

Most women will find their bowel movement changes during their period. During the first few days the body releases chemical prostaglandins, which makes the uterus contract. But the prostaglandins sometimes stray over to the bowel, so it also contracts.

Mira Kaga , an internal medicine physician said that sometimes the body releases a lot of prostaglandin that it doesn't just target the uterus, it targets other areas of the body. In this case, it can cause diarrhea for some, and increased bowel movements for others.

Tender boobs

There's a good chance one’s boobs may become more tender in the lead up to your period. Gynecologist Alexa Dweck told Cosmopolitan that breast swelling can sometimes occur over the course of an entire week, and it's not uncommon to go up a bra size. This is because of rising progesterone levels.

Dr Rebecca Brightman, a gynecologist in New York City, recommends drinking less caffeine, using an ice pack or heating pad on your chest, or taking painkillers.

Craving sugar

There is a lot of hormonal changes in your period. Not only do you feel more sexually energized but crave more sugar and fatty foods.

Dr. Deb Laino, a licensed sex therapist in Delaware, said serotonin levels tend to deplete before the start of a period, and cortisol (a hormone released when you're stressed) rises. He told Cosmopolitan that sugary and fatty foods tend to give a burst of serotonin.

Exercise is harder

Many women find exercising really helps in easing the pre-menses when they are expecting their period, but your time of the month can make it tougher.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Trauma Rehabilitation on how women recover from mild traumatic brain injury found that when progesterone levels are high the week before a period (call the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle), women took longer to recover.

This doesn't just apply to brain trauma, which is why your regular gym routine may leave you feeling sore longer before your period starts. The luteal phase also leaves a lot of people feeling out of breath faster and just generally fatigued. Your body's preparing for a period! It's hard work.

Most doctors recommend you take it a little easier during your period.

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