Hormonal and Mental Health: Premenstrual Period

It is the hormonal changes and not the hormones themselves that can affect your mental health. It is during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause that the most significant variations in hormone levels occur. Next, we present the mental disorders related to the most frequent hormonal changes, specifically during the menstrual cycle.

There is a high percentage of women who experience physical and psychological changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Do you know why these changes occur? Here we tell you.

During the menstrual cycle, levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone have variations or fluctuations. The different “waves” of these hormones in the body can cause changes in the body (somatic) and affect the mood (psychological). To get more details on topics related to this, you can find them here on gurupendidikan.co.id.

Premenstrual period and hormonal changes

During the days before menstruation known as the premenstrual period, women are more vulnerable to these disorders, especially during the luteal phase of the cycle. This is the third phase of the menstrual cycle that begins just after ovulating and goes until the day before the next menstrual period begins, this phase lasts typically 12 to 14 days, but it can also last 10 to 16 days.

During this phase, the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), also known as lutropin, are responsible for triggering ovulation. At the same time, it increases the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is the hormone that regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body and is responsible for the secretion of estrogens in the body.

The cyclic changes in hormones or chemical alterations in the brain during this period, give rise to that series of annoying and uncomfortable emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms that are experienced during the premenstrual period and that disappear at the beginning of menstruation, usually in the second day.

Depending on their severity, these symptoms can be divided into:

Premenstrual Symptoms

This category includes especially the signs that you experience at a physical level, such as breast tension, abdominal distension, and fluid retention, which can even make you gain weight.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

It includes diverse symptoms compared to premenstrual symptoms, but neither does it significantly affect the average performance of those who suffer from it. Although it is undoubtedly annoying and uncomfortable, it is possible to cope with it, sometimes with the help of medicines or natural remedies.

The symptoms of premenstrual syndrome can be divided into physical and emotional.

Emotional symptoms

●    Tension or anxiety

●    Depressive disorders

●    Mood swings and irritability or anger

●    Changes in appetite and food cravings

●    Sleep disorders

●    Social isolation

●    Concentration problems

●    Decreased sex drive

●    Anxiety

●    Physical signs and symptoms

●    Joint or muscle pain

●    Headache

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Dysphoria is an unpleasant or annoying emotion, such as sadness (depressive mood), anxiety, irritability, or restlessness. It is the opposite state of euphoria.

The PMDD is considered a severe prolongation and disabling of the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), whose manifestations are mostly psychological.

This disorder is so severe and intense that it can cause deterioration in all areas of functioning; that is, it can affect work, studies, relationships with friends, family, and even with the couple. The percentage of women affected by this disorder is between 3 and 8%. Other problems, such as depression and Anxiety disorder, are similar to PMS and PMDD.

The main difference is that the symptoms of PMS and PMDD occur only in the days before menstruation. Depression and anxiety are notable every time. Note that you can get related subjects about other health matters on dosenpendidikan.co.id

If you experience some of these symptoms in a very profound way, it is recommended to go to the doctor, who, once the diagnosis is made, may indicate a pharmacological treatment that helps decrease that intensity and allows you to return generally to daily tasks.