By EKalman October 11, 2022 - 5:52am

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of symptoms that women experience approximately a week or two before their menstruation. PMS refers to changes in mood and emotions, physical health, and behavior that occur between ovulation and the beginning of your period and linger for a few days until your periods start. PMS tends to appear on a monthly basis.

Many women of reproductive age report experiencing premenstrual symptoms such as bloating, headaches, anxiety, pelvic pain, and moodiness. Some women may experience such severe symptoms that they miss work or school, while others are unaffected by milder symptoms. Unfortunately, many people believe in various misconceptions about PMS that can make its symptoms worse. In this article, we have gathered five myths about PMS that should be addressed ASAP.

1. All women have PMS
The reality is that PMS rates vary greatly, and it is still unknown how many women suffer from it. PMS is a medical term for a variety of symptoms, including physical and mental distress. Most of the time, the discomfort is so minor that it has no impact on one's daily life. Then it is not PMS as defined by the medical community. When the symptoms fulfill all of the above-mentioned medical criteria, the condition is known as premenstrual syndrome.

2. PMS-ing is completely normal
PMS may be common for many women, but it does not have to be your burden. You have probably been told that during PMS you should buy and swallow a bar of chocolate, watch Netflix, and take some pain medications. However, contrary to common opinion, this is not always the case.

The unpleasant symptoms we associate with PMS are frequently the result of hormonal imbalances. PMS-like symptoms are linked to elevated oestrogen, reduced progesterone, or both. These hormonal abnormalities may be typical in the modern world, but they are not normal. It is totally achievable to eliminate PMS by determining what is wrong with your hormones and putting them back into balance.

3. When you have PMS, you should avoid exercising
Actually, if it makes you feel better, you should exercise. Exercise, particularly light physical exercises such as walking or yoga, may alleviate certain PMS symptoms such as stomach cramps or headaches due to increased production of pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins. Moreover, the endorphin release that comes with exercise might boost your mood if you're feeling low.

4. PMS can’t be severe
Some women can experience extremely severe PMS symptoms so they can be diagnosed with the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is a condition that can have a significant influence on a woman's life by causing severe, devastating physical and mental symptoms that begin before periods and stop when menstruation begins.

The premenstrual dysphoric disorder arises when a person's everyday functioning and interpersonal interactions are disrupted by cyclical mood and behavior difficulties caused by hormone changes. These mental problems may coexist with physical symptoms like cramps and bloating. Some women may delay seeking care and be misdiagnosed with other diseases, such as bipolar disorder or depression, before being diagnosed with PMDD.

5. PMS and menstruation are the same things
The unpleasant symptoms associated with PMS might be triggered by a drop in oestrogen and progesterone levels, which lets our periods begin. On day 1 of your period, your oestrogen levels will begin to increase again, which means that by day 2 or 3 of your period, you should be feeling a lot better. Indeed, the bleeding phase of your cycle can produce discomfort, cramps, and bloating (due to inflammation), but this is not PMS.