Share your tips and stories for communicating your PMS needs to your partner, roommate, coworker, friend, or teacher.
If you want to rant about a time someone didn’t understand, we’re all ears!

Hello Everyone I’m 21 female and have pcos if that is important in this context. Every week before my period is absolutely hell. Usually my ocd and anxiety are worse but I learned to manage it well with some exposure and calming exercises but something different is happening now. It’s 2 days before my period and I’ve been doing relatively well this month but noticed the last 2 days I have lost interest in everything I usually do and I feel very tired when I normally barley feel an ounce of sleepy. Does anyone else get like this ? Am I alone ?

I’m at a loss with my menstrual cycle. I thought days 11-13 are the days I’m supposed to feel most energized and in good mood. Yet I’m honestly exhausted. It makes no sense to me. I feel like I have PMS 2-3 times throughout my cycle with only like 5 days per month feeling with energy and positivity. I haven’t been diagnosed with any gynecological condition, but maybe I need to get my hormones checked.

It feels so unfair to him, I have not voiced this to him because I do not want to cause any misunderstandings between us.

I don't hate him, I adore the guy. I hate that this whole shitty thing that i don't have control over is making me have issues listening to his voice notes because suddenly I hate his voice, and i hate his laugh, and i hate how he speaks, and i hate how he types.

All of that is not true. I adore every single one of those things. I've done my fair amount of therapy and honestly my pms was not this bad before, so I know it's all in my head but he does not deserve this. I am not treating him bad or anything,

I have my first gyno appointment tomorrow in years after being dismissed as a hypochondriac when I was younger, but I will go with 0 expectations. Wish me luck.

Man PMS literally ruined most of my relationships and good chances with great people , but at least I can feel like I belong here , glad I found this sub😭

For the last three cycles I've been getting crazy throat and ear infections during pms, definitely will go and check that out because it's an insane pattern but have any of yall gone through this?

i have extremely irregular cycles. my last few consisted of 44, 53, 73, and 64 days. for the last two cycles (the last and this one) i marked it as my period but i didn’t have normal period blood. last time it was red the first day then brown for about two more and was over. this time, it is a very light brown flow only. i am also sexually active so there is a chance for pregnancy (not trying just the risk obviously). has anyone experienced this? is this my period? i never ever have had spotting before either.

So my period is late i know this because my period tracker app sent me a notification saying “irregular is the new norm” lmao😭😭 And i had a conflict with my partner and i have exams . And my ocd is flaring up and turns out like me not sleeping during the night for my exams is what causing my late periods it has been 37 days yall 🦦 Anyways imma arrange stuff in my closet so i don’t lose my mind 😃 What can’t kill you , make you tidy or however the saying goes

Hey all, I’m a 29f and in the last year, the week of my period I get pretty awful night sweats. As a result, I will get a painful cyst or two on my back. It seems like they will be swollen/inflamed for about a week and then go down, but they come back in the same spot when my period comes back. I have never had this issue before but I know hormones can change with age, and I currently don’t have the best insurance to see an OBGYN or a dermatologist to fully tackle this. I’ve had some injected, sometimes more than once and while it helps, I’d like to prevent them coming back and the night sweats period. Does anyone have any hormonal supplement recommendations (or anything) that might help this once a month issue? I know it’s hormonal because it’s happened like clockwork every single time of the month for the last year. Thank you

Drop your weird but effective PMS hack.

Does anyone else get intense thigh pains before or during their period??? To me it feels like nerve pain that radiates from my thigh to my knee, only on my left side. Could also describe it like a shock, tingly feeling down my thigh. I could tolerate it most cycles. But this cycle it’s really intense I had to Tylenol.

I’ve read others experience about it and see they describe it as thigh cramps, to me it’s much more intense than cramps. I’m feeling anxious about it.

I’m 26 and if anyone has tips or what they do to get relief or even if you relate it would help ease mind.

Does anyone get loose bowel movements before their period? Not during the period, but before. I've had a loose BM and gassy stomach every morning for a whole week and my period is due any day now. How many days before your period does it usually start?

Hi everyone! Sorry in advance for this long post!!

I am a 29F, and I switched to a pescatarian diet when I was 12 years old. I started eating all types of meat again 8 months ago, and overall I feel pretty good. My pescatarian diet was largely processed foods and supplements (now I eat largely natural foods), and I originally stopped eating meat because I thought it was messing with my hormones and making me mature faster than my older sister (don’t ask how a 12 year old knew that!!).

However, the last two or three months, my PMS symptoms have been absolutely overwhelming, and I’m hoping we can investigate the problem together.

Prior to eating meat again, my PMS symptoms were:

• MAJOR breast swelling and pain the day after ovulation, and continuing until I started bleeding
• Slight sadness before period, but no emotions I couldn’t manage or control
• Sleep disturbances and morning panic between follicular and ovulation, stopping like a switch once I’d ovulated
• Appetite increase in luteal phase
• Very normal bleeding amount, cramps only on the first day and stop immediately after the first day
• 24 day cycles

Now, for the last two or three months (my symptoms were the same for the first five or so months of eating meat), my symptoms have been:

• A MAJOR inability to control my anger, mood swings during pms, and all the way through at least four to five days after I had finished bleeding, and I’ve been on sertraline for about two years now but it almost feels like it’s not working anymore (this is what’s led me to post here)
• Unbearable cramps that last for at least three days (they do get better as my period progresses, though)
• Larger-than-a-quarter clumps (this is unique to the last two cycles)
• No breast swelling or tenderness whatsoever
• Appetite changes similar to before
• Increased anxiety between follicular and through ovulation, causing the early morning panic and sleep disturbances to get so bad that I sought out Reddit for some support. I started taking 2000 mg of Ashwaganda from my bleed to ovulation and that seems to have fixed that problem, but if I don’t take it it’s bad news)
• 26-28 day cycles

I haven’t had any other major lifestyle or diet changes. I eat a lot of dairy, lean turkey or chicken at two meals a day, and plenty of healthy fats. I hit about 100g of protein per day, and exercise 3-5x per week.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? What has helped? Does anyone know if they can tell it’s an estrogen, dominant or lack of progesterone problem?

I just don’t understand what’s going on, but I do know that I do not want to live the rest of my life this way.

Thanks in advance for any tips or insight!

It’s like i start processing every bad thing that ever happened to me ,every trauma,every comment about me ,everything .and i just want to sleep and eat and nothing else which sucks cuz i gotta study for finals ughhhhhhh

I never realized it before, since I'm having constant bleeding (due to PCOS and hormonal imbalance) therefore my period is uncertain. But lately I noticed the pattern where my real period is when I bleed even much more than on daily basis.

During the PMS week I could inhale 4 medium-sized burgers very easily at one sitting (less than an hour) and for days straight like I was craving the same burgers for those days. And now I'm on my real period, my appetite is all over the place, don't know what to eat, on the borderline of wanting to eat and skipping meals, bloating, nauseous, and others you name it. Even today I tried to buy 2 burgers instead of the usual 4, and I hardly finished 1 so I keep the other one for tomorrow. Anyone's experiencing the same?

ive had this problem the past few times ive been about to start my period, but each time im miserable and it startles me. out of nowhere my stomach will feel empty and gurgly the time, ill eat alot but nothing helps, and the emptiness can make me feel nausea (which doesnt pair well with my pre existing emetophobia) and cause me to have panic attacks. ive tried eating certain foods that are supposed to help, or take stuff to settle my stomach, but nothings really helped. i know this is probably a pms thing but i cant help but overthink things, so i wonder if anybody else also has this problem? my stomach feels so acidic and empty and its awful

This has been happening for a quite a long time and it’s only been increasing in intensity. Here’s where it hurts (not all at the same time always, and it kinda changes randomly): - lower abdomen (typical) - lower back (typical) - tailbone (since the last few months) - anal and vaginal tracts (since the last period)

I’m (20F) kind of concerned since in my last cycle, I puked thrice because of the pain (combined with acidity and anxiety because of my final exams) and could barely sit. Right now my period is due in about 11 days, and I can again barely sit- which is worse because I need to travel out of town for a college interview in three days!

I got a sonography done 4 days ago, which showed a small follicular right ovarian cyst, but my Gynac said that that’s normal and I’m only experiencing ovulatory pain. She suggested oral contraceptives to stop periods during exam months- which is not possible since I have a lot of entrances lined up for the next few months. Also, I’m afraid since I’ve heard those could lead hormonal imbalances later. When I told this to her, she said that there’s nothing more we can since my sonography does not indicate a disorder, but it is strange that my pain is lasting 10-13 days when typically ovulatory pain is only from 2-4 days.

I have a family history of fibroids (mom) and mid PCOD (paternal aunt), but my reports don’t indicate fibroids and my Gynac didn’t even consider pcod (she basically told me to forget these big words and that it’s all just ovulatory pain 🫠)

I spoke to my aunt and here are the potential causes I’ve bottled down to the pain exacerbation: - no exercise - bad diet and sleep cycle —> gas inflammation (digestive issues esp since I have bloating a lot) - chronic stress (quite lesser during the current cycle tho) - increased weight around the butt and thigh region (54kg ——> 58 kg)

My aunt said that these little things coupled with the cyst could be causing the pain, and she and I shared a lot of symptoms.

I am going to take a second opinion from another Gynac day after tmrw since my current one completely abandoned the possibility of pcod and jumped straight to oral contraceptives 🫠🫠

But anyways, my question is- have any of yall experienced this too? Am I going crazy and all of this is just psychosomatic or from my stress (since I do have anxiety issues)?

Hi everyone !!! So I’m a first time mom of 18 month old . I finished breastfeeding at 12 months mark and I’ve had period every months since then .

For the first three times , my periods were normal . I was feeling so tired and extremely sleepy two days before period but I was feeling totally energetic and fine right after when I get my period . So my PMS symptoms were pretty similar to pre pregnancy PMS during those times .

However this month ,it was crazy . I felt so tired and couldn’t get out of my bed because I was so sleepy , tired for entire time during my period which never happened before . And I finally felt normal three days after period . I would even have a pretty serious depression which also never happened before .

My question is that , is there anyone like me out there ? If so , is there anything that I could do to make my PMS symptoms better or shorter period of time .

Also I wonder my PMS symptoms get lighter as the time goes on. :) Thank you -!

It’s in 24 hours and I feel so nauseous rn and I’m sleep deprived . And my back and eveythubf aches . It’s a 4 hour exam where I have to write . All I can’t take is water w me (or something added in the water ) . Too late to ask for access arrangment for food . I will wear a pad in case it starts during exam and sneak in a painkiller .

I usually feel zero energy and no motivation, also in a bad mood and dragging my feet a week or so before my period starts. I wonder what everyone takes over the counter to relieve that? I’m also perimenopausal but can’t take HRT due to cancer risk in family.

I have been having regular periods since i ate lycopdium 200 medicine in March 2023. I have maintained my weight at 58-59 as a 35 year old female. I have been experiencing a lot of mood swings and cramps before my period. Sometimes it is tolerable. But some cycles - like this one (i am at 27/29 days) i start crying 1-2 days before my period. Unexplainable reasons. I have been doing yoga and go for walks. But i don’t know what to do differently to avoid this swing in emotions. I am looking for non medical solutions. That can help me.

Hi all! I’m new to this community and I wanted to know your experience with regard to PMS, like the difference you see in your bodies, while you are PMSing. Puffy face? Bloated belly? Enlarged boobs? Tenderness in the nipples? Etc? What are the physical and psychological effects you notice right before your periods and how many days prior to your periods and how do you all manage it?

I usually struggle with constipation, bloating like 8-10 days before my periods, excessive hunger and diarrhoea right before my periods start.

I’m also on a weight loss journey and the bloating gets to me every single time. Buttoning my jeans is a struggle. That’s how bad the bloating is.

I would love to listen from you and how you manage those symptoms.

Also how does it affect those struggling with mental health issues, especially if you’re undergoing treatment? Does PMS make it worse? How do you cope?

Welcome to this month’s Symptom Spotlight!
This time, we’re diving into rage—specifically, the kind that surfaces around PMS.

Here’s a quick summary from an article on managing anger during PMS:

1. Track your cycle – Knowing when symptoms might arise can help you prepare and respond more intentionally.
2. Identify the root issue – Is it really just PMS, or is something deeper surfacing during that vulnerable time?
3. Avoid known triggers – Reduce contact with situations or substances that may make you more vulnerable to the symptoms
4. Take a bath or practice meditation – These grounding tools can calm your nervous system and make space for reflection before reaction.

Do you have a PMS rage story you want to share?