In fact, your cycle can cause a whole host of unexpected period symptomsoutside of cramping and bleeding.
Her expertise is in the management of complex womens health issues.
Your cycle has four distinct phases, and your hormone levels fluctuate throughout.
Your cycle starts on the first day of your period when your body sheds uterine lining.
And, the cycle begins once more.
These phases serve specific reproductive purposes, but they affect more than just your uterus.
board-certified OB/GYN and chief medical officer at Seven Starling
Everyones hormonal fluctuations are different, and the symptoms that occur are unique, Dr. Poynor says.
Still, she explains a few unexpected areas of the body that are frequently affected by your cycle.
Studies indicate that estrogen is connected topain threshold, and drops in estrogen point to lower tolerance.
Drops in estrogens have beenlinkedto headaches and even migraines.
Estrogen andprogesterone affect neurotransmitterreceptors in the brain, so fluctuations and changes can result in mood shifts or headaches.
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Headaches might also happen during your period due to hydration levels.
Combined, these two factors indicate that staying on top of your water intake is a good idea.
And this can also make your breasts more tender.
Prostaglandins cause intermittent blood flow in the muscles, which induces contractions.
board-certified OB/GYN and chief medical officer at Seven Starling
During your period, you experience uterine contractions, which encourage menstrual blood flow.
This is ultimately a good thing, but those contractions can agitate nerves and muscles in your back.
If you need relief, a heating pad encourages blood vessels to expand, which improves blood flow.
This can, in turn, reduce the pain from this period symptom.
NSAIDs like ibuprofen help block prostaglandins and reduce pain, too, Dr. Raskin adds.
Hydration and hormone level fluctuations can contribute to GI symptoms for a few reasons.
These factors affect how quickly you move waste through your body and how much gas you release.
Additionally, the colon and lower large intestine can experience friction as the uterus contracts during menstruation.
Every month, I forget about this and am filled with renewed annoyance about my GI-related period symptoms.
There is still a lot of research to be done about these hormones and how they impact your body.
If a period symptom concerns youits always worth checking in with a provider to chat about your concerns.
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