Warning: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Click Continue to proceed or Back to go to Channel 4 Health

Conditions

Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the catch-all term given to a range of physical, emotional and psychological symptoms that appear in the lead up to a women’s period. The symptoms usually last for a few days leading up to the period and a few afterwards. Though most women are able to cope with the symptoms, a minority can find the symptoms so severe that their daily lives are disrupted. Common symptoms include irritability, mood swings, tenderness around the breasts, cravings and bloating, but there are dozens of other symptoms that can occur. The causes of PMS are not fully understood, but hormonal and chemical changes are certainly one possibility, as is stress and diet. Amendments to these areas are frequently the first stage used by GPs when looking for treatment, alongside diuretics, anti-inflammatory pills and oral contraceptives.

Comments

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments are reviewed before they are published.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

i always have ,y period evry mounth but last mouth i missed this iv had me periods for 5 years now and diz has never happen before but this mounth i come on for a week den 2 weeks later i had another period and it last a week like usally but is this normal?

Hi, I have had 3 children and am subsequently hypothyroid since having my second. I have suffered from ovarian pain/low pain since the age of 18 (I am now 33) and am on mefenamic acid at present and when it is very bad I am on tramadol. My GP has tried all the pills/potions possible for me and various tests etc, over the years I have had several minor procedures (laparascopies. D&C etc), large cyst (5cm) found which was aspirated. In the past year I had a Mirena coil fitted during another laparoscopy which took time to settle down but I still have problems and bleed for 3 weeks out of 4 which makes me very tired and I suffer the most dreadful mood swings possible (still suffer the pain). I have had extra progesterone pills to "dry my womb up" which works for a very short while. My GP says it could be my thyroid causing the problems but is referring me again for either ablation of the womb or hysterectomy anyway. Also since having my children I still lactate (even though I stopped breast feeding well over a year ago (breast fed all my children and had the same problem). My blood/hormones were checked to see why but all came back ok. I had obstetric cholestasis with 2 out of 3 pregancies. I would love to know what is going on in my body with regards to my hormones and the pain. A second opinion would be greatly appreciated.

i'm 15 and i started my period about 5 years ago, but i haven't had it for 5 years. for the first year it was regular, then it was about every three months, eventually regressing to every 6 months. I haven't had my period in two years. What is wrong with me!!

I started my priod when i was 8 and then stopped and started properly when i was 13. I have always been very bad and irregular. But i he been on my period since boxing day last year, i was on for 7 month straight and now at the moment i come on for 2 weeks-1 month and when i come off i only come off for 5 days at the most. I got rushed into hospital not that long ago because a huge blood clot came away from me. I was in agony and cryin alot,and when i got to the hospital they didnt even examining me. They said to me that my blood pressure and my pulse was fine and they just referred me back to my GP. I keep going to hospital and they still cant find out what is wrong with me and keep on reffering me to my GP, and all they do is keep putting me on tablets that dont work and refer me to the hospital again. So basically i am going backwards and forwards all the time and it has now been alost a year and im still no where near sorted. My parents were getting into trouble formy attendance at school and now i have had to quit college because of it. I have leaked through my pants many of times and it is quit embarassing and sometimes i cant even get out of bed. I was even using tampons and towels and it still kept happning. Its like im a kid wetting the bed having to change my sheets most mornings. Please help me no one else will and i cant cope any more. xx

I tarted my priod when i was 8 and then stopped and started properly when i was 13. I have always been very bad and irregular. But i he been on my period since boxing day last year, i was on for 7 month straight and now at the moment i come on for 2 weeks-1 month and when i come off i only come off for 5 days at the most. I got rushed into hospital not that long ago because a huge blood clot came away from me. I was in agony and cryin alot,and when i got to the hospital they didnt even examining me. They said to me that my blood pressure and my pulse was fine and they just referred me back to my GP. I keep going to hospital and they still cant find out what is wrong with me and keep on reffering me to my GP, and all they do is keep putting me on tablets that dont work and refer me to the hospital again. So basically i am going backwards and forwards all the time and it has now been alost a year and im still no where near sorted. My parents were getting into trouble formy attendance at school and now i have had to quit college because of it. I have leaked through my pants many of times and it is quit embarassing and sometimes i cant even get out of bed. I was even using tampons and towels and it still kept happning. Its like im a kid wetting the bed having to change my sheets most mornings. Please help me no one else will and i cant cope any more. Im only 16 years old xx

i am 18 yrs old and i started my period when i was 14. i lost my viginity when i was 17. this might sound slagish but i have slept with a few people but i am now with someone serious and settled down. but 2 weeks ago i had a water inection. that cleared up but then a few days later i started bleeding i went to the doctors and they gave me a 3 day course of antibiotics and they put it down to the water infection i had a test done for clamidia and that cam back clear. but in the last 3 days i have started bleeding again. i am due on my period in about 3 days i am on the contreceptive pill so my periods are regular. but i am scared why i am bleeding before i am due on period. PLEASE HELP

I've been on my period for two weeks and I really want to know why… I've not had any pain or anything, but it just won't stop… its never happened before so I have no idea whats going on….

I am 13 3/4 years old and i havent started my period yet, and im really worried because out of my friends i am the only one who hasn't started. Will it ever come? Am i normal?

I'm 20, and since I was about 13 in the days before my period, I'd suffer awfully with being unable to control my bladder properly. It hurts to pee, and I feel like I need to all the time, and often I can't hold it, even though I barely any liquid comes out at all. I also have very bad problems with having very depressed feelings and I get over emotional when I'm pre menstrual. What can be done to help this?

ive had my period since i was 11 and now im 16 and its always being quite regular, occuring monthly with about a one or two day difference every time. i have been sexually active recently but i have always used protection except now my period is 11 days late and i dont understand why, i am quite positive there wasnt an accident with the contraception but i cant think of any other explanations as to why it hasnt come yet because this has never happened before,and its really worrying me, i wondered if this is normal or what i should do now?




This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published - it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 were to need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don't swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


Videos

  1. Diagnosis of stress incontinence

    Quick Health Advice - Stress Incontinence

    Dr Harper discusses stress incontinence and what can be done to stop you continually running to the toilet.

  2. Am I Normal - After Sex

    Am I Normal After Sex

    Dr Dawn Harper discusses what is and isn't normal after sex, including discussions with the cast of Hollyoaks.

  3. how to check your vulva

    How To Check Your Vulva

    Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your vulva against vulval cancer.

  4. Am I Normal - Periods

    Am I Normal Periods

    Dr Dawn Harper discusses all matters relating to periods and what is and isn't normal. Includes discussions with the cast of Ho…


Advertisement