Premenstrual Symptoms and Other Reasons for Feeling Sick Before Menstruation Commences
For many women, experiencing nausea before their period is a common and often inconvenient symptom. However, severe nausea accompanied by vomiting, dehydration, or intense stomach pain can have several possible causes and treatment options.
## Possible Causes
The causes of premenstrual nausea can be varied. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) are common culprits, with some women experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cramps before their period. Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the tissue that lines the uterus develops outside of it, can also cause severe pain, heavy bleeding, nausea, and even vomiting.
Other potential causes include adenomyosis, uterine polyps or fibroids, and severe dysmenorrhea - intense menstrual cramps that can cause nausea and vomiting.
## Treatment Options
Managing premenstrual nausea can involve self-care and lifestyle changes, medications, and medical evaluation. Self-care measures include drinking clear fluids, eating small, frequent meals of bland foods, avoiding spicy, greasy, or fried foods, and practicing gentle stretching or yoga.
Over-the-counter medications like antacids, bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), or Emetrol can help soothe the stomach. For pain and inflammation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can help reduce cramping and pain associated with endometriosis or severe dysmenorrhea.
In some cases, hormonal therapies like birth control pills, GnRH agonists, or progestin medications may be prescribed to manage endometriosis or severe PMS symptoms. Prescription anti-nausea medications may also be recommended for severe cases of nausea and vomiting.
## When to Seek Urgent Care
Persistent severe nausea, vomiting, or dehydration requires medical attention to rule out serious underlying causes. Seek immediate medical attention if nausea is accompanied by severe dehydration, intense, unrelenting abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of infection or other serious illness.
## Conclusion
Nausea before a period can usually be managed with over-the-counter medications and by avoiding trigger foods. However, if it does not improve or interferes with daily life, a person should consult a doctor. Illness or infection can also cause nausea around the time of a period. Researchers are still unsure about the exact causes of PMS, but it affects 20-50% of women in the 7 to 10 days before their period. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS, characterized by serious mood swings and potential depression and anxiety. If you are experiencing severe premenstrual nausea, it is essential to consult a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment options.
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cramps before a period.
- Endometriosis, a chronic disease, can contribute to severe pain, heavy bleeding, nausea, and vomiting.
- Adenomyosis, uterine polyps or fibroids, and severe dysmenorrhea can also cause nausea and vomiting.
- Self-care measures for premenstrual nausea include drinking clear fluids, eating small, frequent meals, and avoiding trigger foods.
- Over-the-counter medications like antacids, bismuth subsalicylate, or Emetrol can help soothe the stomach.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce cramping and pain associated with endometriosis or severe dysmenorrhea.
- Hormonal therapies like birth control pills, GnRH agonists, or progestin medications may be prescribed for endometriosis or severe PMS symptoms.
- Prescription anti-nausea medications may be recommended for severe cases of nausea and vomiting.
- Persistent severe nausea, vomiting, or dehydration necessitates medical attention to rule out serious underlying causes.
- Researchers are still unsure about the exact causes of PMS, but it affects 20-50% of women in the 7 to 10 days before their period.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS, characterized by serious mood swings and potential depression and anxiety.
- If you are experiencing severe premenstrual nausea, it is crucial to consult a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and appropriate therapies and treatments, including nutrition, medical-conditions such as neurological disorders, skin-conditions, cardiovascular-health, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, mental-health, and fitness-and-exercise, as well as alternative treatments like CBD.
