It is customary to write about premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in an alarming way: they say, the reasons are clear, but not completely, there are many symptoms, the treatment is ambiguous... But what if you look at PMS from the point of view of benefits for women's health?

Let's say you are sitting at work and talking on Skype with a young man with whom you are terribly in love and with whom you plan to live happily ever after. But you are somehow worried that he probably doesn’t love you, and you are trying to extract signs of attention from him. The young man honestly writes you a paragraph of compliments, but at the same time notices that he is irritated by direct demands for them.

And then you start to really cry! Turn off Skype! Write him a text message saying that you should break up because you are not suitable for each other! You write detailed letter about it! Refusing the meeting! Two days later, you come to your senses and think: “What was that?!” and are trying to establish contact - and you are still very lucky if your interlocutor has not managed to rent an apartment by this time, completely agreeing with you that yes, you cannot be happy together.

Not all women reach such tragic manifestations, but the risk of conflicts with others is very high. This is premenstrual syndrome, a completely officially recognized disease included in the International Classification of Diseases. Range possible symptoms PMS is amazing. Women experience headaches and muscle pain, nausea, breast pain, fatigue, inadequate hunger, they cannot concentrate, they feel anxious, irritable, tearful, etc.

According to Medical University in South Carolina, 85% of women experience at least one PMS symptom—usually behavioral disturbances—every month. About 5% suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder, the most severe form of PMS, in which a woman is forced to take antidepressants because otherwise her poor health, combined with panic attacks and mood swings, makes it impossible for her to function normally or maintain social connections.

Progesterone: works as a sedative

Progesterone itself has no effect on the psyche. But it turns into allopregnanolone in the body. Progesterone processing products, like alcohol, like benzodiazepine tranquilizers, act on the most important inhibitory system of our brain and have a colossal anti-anxiety effect.

That is, as long as the body maintains high level progesterone and its metabolites, the woman seems to live on sedatives. If their concentration changed smoothly, the psyche would have time to adapt to the changes, and significant influence there would be no effect on the mood. But before menstruation (as well as around childbirth or abortion), progesterone levels drop sharply, and in this situation the brain is quite sincerely convinced that everything is bad and life has not gone well.

And even if a biologically savvy woman realizes that a drop in progesterone increases anxiety, this does not particularly help her. On days like these, a normal woman thinks: “My husband doesn’t love me, my children are stupid and evil, my employer can barely tolerate me, and I myself am kind of stupid and ugly.” A woman biologist thinks: “Well, it’s not enough that the husband is completely objective! - doesn’t love me (and further in the text), so in addition to all the troubles, I also have PMS!”

Today is PMS, tomorrow is a healthy pregnancy

The glass, as always, is not only half empty, but also half full. Yes, falling progesterone levels increase anxiety, and this is sad. But, on the other hand, high levels of progesterone reduce it, and this is very good. Experiments on rats confirm that in behavioral tests that assess stress levels, pregnant animals with their elevated progesterone levels behave as calmly as animals given a dose of synthetic progesterone or a dose of standard anti-anxiety drugs - and much more calm than normal animals. not pregnant and not receiving medications.

Being nervous during pregnancy is very, very harmful. Stress hormones suppress the production of sex hormones in the mother and can cross the placenta and directly affect the fetus. As a result, stress can lead to miscarriage, heart defects, low birth weight, delays in child development and a number of other disorders. This means that progesterone's ability to reduce anxiety is an incredibly important benefit that should have been heavily favored by natural selection because it allows women, all other things being equal, to give birth to healthier children.

So, if you are a woman and experience severe anxiety during PMS, this means that it is your psyche that responds well to the presence of progesterone, which will allow you to experience pregnancy more calmly.

And if you are a man and every month they blow your mind, take it philosophically and set a reminder in your phone for the corresponding dates: “She doesn’t hate me, she just thinks so.” And let you be consoled by the thought that you and this anxious young lady can have wonderful children.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (also called premenstrual tension, cyclic or premenstrual illness) is a complex of physical and mental symptoms that are cyclical and occur several days before the onset of menstruation. This specific condition is caused by the pathological course of the second phase of the menstrual cycle, which is characteristic of most women.

It has been revealed that the risk of developing PMS increases over the years. According to statistics, city residents are more susceptible to this disease than rural ones. About ninety percent of women of reproductive age experience some changes in their body that occur before the approach of menstruation, usually seven to ten days before it begins. In some women, these manifestations of symptoms are mild and do not affect daily life(mild form of PMS), accordingly, do not require treatment, but in others (about 3-8%), the symptoms manifest themselves in a severe form, requiring mandatory medical intervention. The fact that certain symptoms manifest themselves cyclically makes it possible to distinguish PMS from other diseases.

Changes of an emotional and physical nature in a woman’s state before menstruation pass almost immediately after their onset. If symptoms are observed throughout the entire menstrual cycle, you should consult a doctor, since the cause of this condition may not be PMS at all, but more serious illness. In this case, consultation with a psychiatrist is recommended.

Causes of premenstrual syndrome.
More recently, premenstrual syndrome was considered a kind of disorder psychological nature, has not yet been proven that it is based on changes in hormone levels in the body. The presence or absence of premenstrual tension syndrome in women is due to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and various reactions on them the body of every representative of the fair sex.

The most common causes of PMS are:

• Violation of water-salt metabolism.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Frequent stress and conflict situations in the family (in most cases, PMS develops in women of a certain mental make-up: overly irritable, thin, overly concerned about their health).
• Hormonal imbalances, namely, disturbances in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the second phase of the menstrual cycle (the level of estrogen increases with insufficient function of the corpus luteum with a decrease in the level of progesterone, which affects the nervous and emotional state of the woman).
• Increased secretion of the hormone prolactin, against the background of which changes occur in the mammary glands.
• Various thyroid diseases.
• Not good nutrition: lack of vitamin B6, as well as zinc, magnesium, calcium.
• Cyclic fluctuations in the levels of certain substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain (particularly endorphins) that affect mood.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
As mentioned earlier, with the onset of menstruation, PMS symptoms completely disappear or are significantly reduced. There are several main forms of PMS that have pronounced symptoms:

• Psychovegetative form, in which PMS manifests itself in the form of forgetfulness, excessive irritability, conflict, touchiness, often tearfulness, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness or insomnia, constipation, numbness of the hands, decreased libido, unpredictable outbursts of anger or depression, sensitivity to odors, flatulence. . It has been noted that most often in young women of reproductive age, premenstrual tension syndrome is expressed in the form of attacks of depression, and in adolescents in adolescence, aggressiveness prevails.
• Edema form of PMS, most often characterized by engorgement and soreness of the mammary glands, as well as swelling of the fingers, face, legs, slight weight gain, itching of the skin, acne, muscle pain, weakness, sweating, bloating.
• Cephalgic form of PMS In this form, the main symptoms are headaches, dizziness, fainting, increased irritability, nausea and vomiting. I note that headaches with this form can be paroxysmal, accompanied by swelling and redness of the face.
• "Crisis" form, in which symptoms of so-called “panic attacks” are observed - an increase blood pressure, increased heart rate, attacks of compression behind the sternum, fear of death. Basically, this condition worries women with this form of PMS in evening time, or at night. This form is mainly observed in premenopausal women (aged 45-47 years). In most cases, patients with a crisis form of PMS are diagnosed with diseases gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and cardiovascular system.
• Atypical form of PMS accompanied by an increase in body temperature to 38°C with migraine attacks during menstruation, ulcerative gingivitis and stomatitis, attacks of suffocation before and during menstruation.
• A combination of several forms of PMS at once (mixed). As a rule, there is a combination of psychovegetative and edematous forms.

Taking into account the number of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, diseases are distinguished into mild and severe forms:

• The mild form is characterized by the manifestation of three to four symptoms, one or two of which predominate.
• The severe form is expressed in the simultaneous manifestation of from five to twelve symptoms, in which two to five symptoms are the most pronounced.

Impaired ability of a woman to work during menstruation indicates a severe course of PMS, which in this case is often accompanied by mental disorders.

Stages of premenstrual syndrome.
There are three stages of PMS:

• compensated, in which the severity of the symptoms of the disease is insignificant, with the onset of menstruation the symptoms disappear, while the disease does not develop with age;
• subcompensated, which has pronounced symptoms that affect a woman’s ability to work, and over the years the manifestations of PMS only get worse;
• decompensated stage, expressed in severe symptoms that persist for several days after the end of menstruation.

In most cases, women with premenstrual syndrome do not seek treatment. medical care, considering this a natural phenomenon. The symptoms of PMS are very similar to those during short term pregnancy, so many women confuse them. Some people try to cope with the symptoms of PMS on their own, taking painkillers and often antidepressants without a doctor’s prescription. Most often, the use of this kind of medication helps to temporarily weaken the manifestations of PMS, but a long absence of proper treatment leads to the transition of the disease to the decompensated stage, so you should not delay visiting a gynecologist.

Since the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are quite extensive, some women confuse it with other diseases, often turning to the wrong specialists (therapist, neurologist, psychiatrist) for help. Only a thorough examination can reveal the cause of the disease.

Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome.
To make a diagnosis, the doctor examines the patient’s medical history and listens to any existing complaints. The cyclical nature of attacks is the first sign of PMS.

To diagnose the disease, blood tests for hormones done in both phases of the menstrual cycle (prolactin, estradiol, progesterone) are examined. Depending on the form of PMS, the hormonal characteristics of patients differ. For example, with the edematous form of PMS, a decrease in progesterone levels is observed in the second phase of the cycle, while with neuropsychic, cephalgic and crisis forms, the level of prolactin in the blood increases.

After this, taking into account the patient’s form and complaints, additional studies are carried out (mammography, MRI, blood pressure control, electroencephalography, measurements of daily diuresis, etc.) with the involvement of other specialists (endocrinologist, neurologist, therapist, psychiatrist).

For the most accurate diagnosis of the disease, as well as to identify the dynamics of the treatment, experts recommend that all patients with PMS write down their complaints in detail every day in a kind of diary.

Treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
Treatment is carried out comprehensively, regardless of the form of the disease.

To eliminate psycho-emotional manifestations, psychotropic and sedative drugs are prescribed: seduxen, Rudotel and antidepressants Tsipramine, Coaxil. It is recommended to take these medications for two months in both phases of the menstrual cycle.

To normalize the levels of sex hormones, hormonal drugs are prescribed:

• gestagens (Utrozhestan and Duphaston) during the second phase of the menstrual cycle;
• monophasic combined oral contraceptives (Zhanine, Logest, Yarina and others), which are well tolerated by patients, are suitable for all women of reproductive age in the absence of contraindications;
• androgen derivatives (Danazol) in the presence of severe pain in the mammary glands;
• premenopausal women are prescribed GnRH agonists (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists) - Zoladex, Buserelin, which block the process of ovarian functioning, excluding ovulation, thereby eliminating the symptoms of PMS.

If there is excessive secretion of prolactin in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, dopamine agonists (Parlodel, Dostinex) are prescribed. To eliminate edema, diuretics (Spironolactone) are prescribed, and for high blood pressure, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed.

Symptomatic therapy is carried out in the form of additional treatment to the main one, in order to quickly eliminate the symptoms of PMS: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Indomethacin, Diclofenac) and antihistamines (allergic reactions) - Tavegil, Suprastin.

For the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, homeopathic medications are often prescribed, in particular Mastodinon and Remens are herbal non-hormonal remedies, the effect of which extends directly to the cause of PMS. In particular, they normalize the imbalance of hormones, reducing the manifestations of the disease of a psychological nature (irritability, feelings of anxiety and fear, tearfulness). Mastodinon is often recommended for the edematous form of the disease, including chest pain. It is prescribed to be taken twice a day, thirty drops, diluted with water, for three months. If the drug is in tablet form, then take one tablet twice a day. The drug Remens is also taken for three months, ten drops, or one tablet three times a day. Both drugs have virtually no contraindications: excessive sensitivity to the components of the drugs, age restrictions - up to 12 years, pregnancy and lactation.

If the cause of the development of PMS is a lack of B vitamins and magnesium, then vitamins of this group (Magne B6), as well as calcium to prevent osteoporosis and iron to combat anemia, are prescribed.

The course of treatment averages from three to six months, depending on the severity of the disease.

Self-treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
To speed up the recovery process, as well as rapid rehabilitation, it is necessary to lead a certain lifestyle:

• Proper nutrition - limit the consumption of coffee, salt, cheese, chocolate, fats (they provoke the occurrence of PMS manifestations such as migraines), include fish, rice, dairy products, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the diet. To maintain insulin levels in the blood, it is recommended to eat at least five to six times a day in small portions.
• Exercising two to three times a week helps increase the level of endorphins that improve your mood. However, you should not overuse exercise, as excessive amounts only aggravate the symptoms of PMS.
• You need to keep an eye on your emotional state, try not to be nervous, avoid stressful situations, get enough sleep (at least eight to nine hours of full sleep).
• As an aid, it is recommended to use herbal medicine: tincture of motherwort or valerian, thirty drops three times a day, warm chamomile tea, green tea with mint.
• It is recommended to take as much vitamin C as possible. It has been proven that women with PMS get sick more often, this is due to the weakening of the immune system before menstruation, which makes it vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections.

Complication of PMS.
Lack of timely treatment threatens the transition of the disease to the decompensated stage, characterized by severe depressive disorders, cardiovascular complications (high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, heart pain). In addition, the number of symptom-free days between cycles decreases over time.

Prevention of PMS.

• systematic use of oral contraceptives in the absence of contraindications;
• healthy image life;
• regular sex life;
• exclusion of stressful situations.

According to statistics, from 5 to 40% of women are susceptible to premenstrual syndrome - a set of symptoms provoked by the pathological passage of the second part of the menstrual cycle. Statistics also say that PMS most often affects residents of large cities, and the risk of getting the syndrome grows with the years they live. Is PMS a disease? And if so, how to treat premenstrual syndrome?

Behavior during PMS

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome begin to appear between 2 and 10 days before the onset of menstruation. There are six main types of syndrome with common features:

Psychovegetative form characterized by tearfulness, irritability, resentment, insomnia or, on the contrary, drowsiness, general weakness. A woman is prone to depression, decreased libido, and there is increased sensitivity to smells and sounds. It is not uncommon for PMS to be accompanied by constipation and flatulence. IN adolescence aggression intensifies.

1. Cephalgic form– paroxysmal headaches, fainting, nausea, vomiting, irritability, facial flushing.
2. Edema form– sweating, swelling, itching, acne, pain in the mammary glands and muscles, swelling of the mammary glands, bloating, weight gain.
3. Crisis form – high blood pressure, increased heart rate, fear of death. At night, panic attacks occur. As a rule, the crisis form of PMS affects menopausal women with cardiovascular problems, liver and gastrointestinal diseases.
4. Atypical form– migraine attacks during menstruation, ulcerative stomatitis and gingivitis, asthma attacks, vomiting, elevated body temperature.
5. Mixed form– a mixture of symptoms of several forms of premenstrual syndrome.

It should be remembered that PMS is considered a disease. In the presence of similar symptoms you need to seek help from a gynecologist. Often a woman visits a neurologist or psychologist, sincerely believing that her irritability, anxiety and sleep disturbances are caused by psychological problems. In fact, behavioral patterns and health conditions depend on the level of hormones in the blood. Therefore, only a gynecologist can tell you how to alleviate premenstrual syndrome.

How to treat premenstrual syndrome

Treatment of PMS is carried out comprehensively, by prescribing sedative and psychotropic, as well as hormonal drugs. Depending on the form of PMS, appropriate pharmacological agents are used. For example, for high blood pressure, antihypertensive medications are recommended, for swelling, diuretics are prescribed, and for allergic reactions, antihistamines are prescribed.

Typically, PMS treatment lasts up to six months and is accompanied by taking vitamin complexes, in particular group B, and magnesium.

Prevention of PMS

It is possible to prevent PMS, thereby reducing the risk of unwanted symptoms. Prevention measures include regular sex life, taking oral contraceptives, lack of stress and a healthy lifestyle.

How to reduce PMS symptoms? Tea with mint and chamomile, tincture of valerian or motherwort will help you. Introduce more rice, dairy products, legumes, fish, vegetables, fruits and dark chocolate into your diet. Exercise physical exercise without increased loads. Do not smoke. Reduce your consumption of strong coffee and don't get carried away alcoholic drinks. And try to get at least 8-9 hours of sleep a day.

I recently walked out of the entrance in the evening and heard men's voices. - Well, all the men, let's go to the last one and go home. - Whatever you want, I’ll also smoke. I have PMS and it’s better not to show up at home. - Why? - Last time I asked: “What are they feeding you today?” - so she threw a plate at me. She screamed so horribly, and then burst into tears. And this happens every time! Well, off to the bathhouse, such a hassle!

This overheard dialogue got me thinking. It's true, but it's true PMS (premenstrual syndrome) not only torments many women, but also affects many men.

Many women experience this madness when joy is replaced by tears, tears by aggression, aggression by depression, depression by hopelessness. The circle closes, and the continuous change of feelings and moods exhausts not only you, but also those around you.

Experts have found that according to statistics With age, the percentage of women suffering from PMS inexorably increases. After 30 years, he torments every second woman. By the way, men, if your woman is sexually active and also choleric, beware! It is this type that is most susceptible to PMS, especially if there are thyroid disorders or nervous disorders. You will experience the whole gamut of her emotions.

The main cause of PMS is the influence of the hormones progesterone, estrogen and prolactin. In addition, it affects hereditary factor, B6 deficiency, etc. Since science cannot yet 100% accurately determine the causes of PMS, we will not go into medical details. One thing is clear: PMS is not only changes in behavior from a psychological point of view (depression, aggressiveness, tearfulness, irritability, fatigue), but also physiological suffering.

PMS can manifest itself high pressure, swelling, headaches, nausea, vomiting, elevated temperature, even allergic reactions and attacks of bronchial asthma.

Certainly, It’s hard for men to understand why a plate is suddenly flying at you, especially when you can’t explain it to yourself. You say to yourself: “Whoa, whoa, honey, stop! Stop beating the ground with your hooves,” and steam is already pouring out of your nostrils, and you scream hysterically: “How I hate you, you brute!”

Just yesterday you would never have allowed yourself to say such a thing to your loved one, but today you are ready not only to limit yourself to words, but also to attack him with your fists. Of course, in five minutes it will be replaced by tears, apologies and self-pity for your beloved, but you still won’t be able to explain to him clearly what it all meant.

The mind says: “It’s worth huddling in a corner, hiding from everyone and sitting out so that no one gets hurt or falls under the hot hand. Don't call, keep quiet. Shut up! But these words become more illegible. The wave of madness is already nearby, you feel its growing aggression. I want to scream, swear, if only there was a reason, just touch me.

A word, just one word, and there won’t be enough room for everyone! All! “Couldn’t you put your shirt in the closet?!” I’m the only one here, spinning around like a squirrel, cooking, washing! They're looking at you here, but you don't give a damn! Mom told me...” - that’s it, off we go. A word, followed by another, a third, like a snowball. The wave covers your head and bursts out with tears of endless self-pity. Swollen red eyes and emptiness, that's all that's left. The door slammed and he left. What have you achieved, and most importantly, what did you achieve?! It is difficult to understand at all what happened to you, there is no reason. All that remains is the investigation.

How can a woman explain to a man that the beast that wakes up once a month is to blame for everything? A werewolf pushed out by a wave of hormones? With claws, poisonous words and prickly stubble. It is difficult to explain something that he will never be able to experience for himself. There remains only hope for understanding and forgiveness. Let the words of these women sound like a confession, like a revelation.

“I’m not crying... At all... Well, I don’t have this sentimentality... Not for a penny... Sheer aggression is rushing... And I can’t help it... Sexual activity is also jumping up. I can't stand it until I can't stand it..."

“PMS is my nightmare... I become wildly aggressive... You don’t need to do anything with me, it’s better, really, not to approach me and leave me alone. I can lie down in the pillow, but this does not mean that something happened to me and I urgently need to find out what exactly...”

“Once I even beat my husband during PMS, but not too much, he laughed, of course. In general, I wanted to kill... Sometimes he turns from aggression to tears. You look, for example, at all sorts of dogs, or some romantic movie and roar..."

“I'm going crazy with jealousy. I’m jealous of my husband even at the telegraph pole. The aggression is terrible, I’m going crazy. I’m afraid of myself sometimes.”

“I want to eat all the time. You crawl under the blanket, turn on the TV, lie there, shed tears and stuff pies into your mouth one after another. Moreover, it seems that you can swallow an elephant, just give it to me. I want to be capricious, sometimes it’s not sweet, sometimes it’s salty sausage.”

“I can’t sleep, all sorts of nonsense is creeping into my head. You suffer all night. Everything seems to be black. Either tears or anger. My husband is also worried, but I can’t explain anything. There seems to be no reason, but everything is bad, everything is wrong.”

“As I get older, PMS gets worse and worse... My husband tries to avoid me these days, and it annoys me even more! Why isn't he talking to me? What did I do to him?!”

All these statements allow us to introduce some clarity in the female perception of the world, on which PMS leaves a strong imprint. Increased anxiety, nervousness, and physical suffering - all this is not contrived and not even accidental. This is female nature, you shouldn’t fight it. You just need to accept and, if possible, alleviate the suffering. Women, no matter how aggressive they may seem at these moments, are still defenseless, sensitive creatures. They need a strong shoulder and understanding.

Women, don't be afraid to talk to men, help them understand you. And men, try to hear and feel. Only love and respect for each other are the key to mutual understanding. Women can only be advised to be more restrained. Make your voice of reason louder and don’t give in to your emotions. Naturally, these are just words. When PMS hits you in the head, your mind is silent. But there are no hopeless situations.

Want sex? It's not even bad. Sex will help you alleviate many of your PMS symptoms. And your seductive sparkle in your eyes can always attract your beloved man. If your man can no longer cope, then he will surely cope with you.

Tormented by insatiable hunger? Well, more fruits, yoghurts and low-calorie foods. By the way, pineapple is also headache relieves tension. Chocolate also has a good effect on mood, but, unfortunately, a bad one. So don't overdo it with this joy.

Insomnia? Don’t get carried away with sleeping pills, it’s better to drink herbal tea, and even better – have sex. Both pleasant and useful.

All of these recommendations apply if PMS is mild. If you are tormented severe pain, fainting, epileptic attacks, etc., it is better to consult a doctor, most likely you need the necessary hormonal treatment.

Don't start the disease. in a state of aggression, she is uncontrollable and can do many unpleasant things, including murder. A court in England counted PMS as a mitigating circumstance in murder. This once again proves the seriousness of PMS. Of course, this was an isolated case, but an increasing number of lawyers in the United States and European countries are trying to use PMS as an excuse for a crime.

So, men, beware! Otherwise, a werewolf in female form will ruin your skin with her painted claws.

Health

It's no secret that a woman's behavior and mood are greatly influenced by her hormonal levels.

It is hormones that cause a woman to become easily irritated, sometimes without any reason. apparent reason begins to behave aggressively or sheds a sea of ​​tears while watching a film that she has already seen ten times.

A man must remember that there are “special” days of the month when more attention, care and love are required from him . Perhaps you should once again present a bouquet of flowers, buy your favorite chocolate and create a romantic atmosphere for your beloved that will brighten up “these days of the month.”

Romance and a sensitive attitude will do their job: it will be much easier for your beloved to cope with raging hormones.

Perhaps after reading the list from, the stronger sex will understand their loved ones more, and life with them will become more harmonious.

The importance of the hormones estrogen and progesterone

1. It's not just estrogens

When it comes to female hormones, we often mention estrogens. And, of course, such increased attention to them is not unreasonable.

Estrogen - it is the main and most important female sex hormone responsible for the majority various functions in a woman’s body, including breast growth and maturation of the genitals during adolescence.

Estrogen also affects menstrual cycle and a number of other functions not related to childbirth.

Progesterone also plays an important role in the menstrual cycle, in particular, it helps prepare the uterus for a fertilized embryo.

The placenta of a pregnant woman produces progesterone, which is responsible for the growth of the fetus. The surge and decline in the level of this hormone is affected by childbirth, as well as the beginning of breastfeeding.

Testosterone, the male sex hormone, is also present in a woman’s body, although in much smaller quantities. . Testosterone is linked to a woman's sex drive and also affects bone and muscle density.

The pituitary gland, in addition to the three main hormones, secretes others that also regulate the menstrual cycle.

2. It’s different for every woman.

When you start dating a woman and getting to know her better, there comes a point when you will learn some things related to her hormones. For example,how the menstrual cycle affects her behavior and mood.

But when you start dating another woman, a simple truth becomes clear: every woman's hormones behave differently.

One may fall into depression or sadness, the other develops uncontrollable food cravings, the behavior of the third is characterized by other strange habits.

Every healthy woman has the same hormones. Only the level of these hormones differs. Depending on age and some other features, hormone levels either decrease or increase every month on the eve of menstruation.

During the reproductive years, a woman may have between 50 and 400 picograms of estrogen per milliliter of blood.

So don't assume you know everything about female hormones and their effect on her behavior just because you've been in a previous relationship.

PMS in women

3. PMS is serious

Some doctors have equated premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with full-fledged disorder. According to experts, PMS is a fairly compelling argument that excuses tearfulness, mood swings, moodiness, cravings for unhealthy food, and passivity or aggressiveness of a woman during a certain period of the month.

According to experts, three women out of four Every month they experience all the hardships of the so-called premenstrual syndrome.

No one knows exactly what causes PMS: is it a consequence of hormone fluctuations, which in turn provoke chemical changes in the brain, or is it something else?

Some women also suffer from insomnia, headaches and intestinal upset.

These symptoms may be intermittent, but eating healthy foods and taking medications can help relieve them.

However, not everyone women PMS passes in the form of a slight malaise. Some experience an extreme, even debilitating type of PMS known as PMDD

(premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

PMDD is accompanied by severe symptoms. The woman feels increased irritability, high anxiety, and attacks of inexplicable anger. Sometimes the doctor prescribes treatment in the form of contraceptives or even antidepressants.

It is worth noting that some doctors consider PMDD to a specific mental disorder.

But there are also women who have absolutely no symptoms of PMS. Others experience only minor changes in mood and general well-being.

Menstrual cycle and ovulation

4. Menstrual cycle varies

It is known that the average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. In the middle of the cycle, the ovary releases a mature egg. If the egg is fertilized at this point, it moves into the uterine cavity and eventually becomes an embryo.

If fertilization does not occur, the walls of the egg begin to peel off in the form of blood clots . The release of blood is called a "period". And, as a rule, it lasts seven days. Relying on such a schedule, a woman can always determine her “period”.

But the number 28 isaveraged.Some women have a shorter cycle, while others have a longer one. For some women, the “period” lasts only a couple of days, while for others it lasts almost a week.

Further complicating matters is the fact that both the cycle and the period may change over time. Taking various medications, playing sports, stress, or bad habits can also be affected by changes in the cycle and period.

Many women cannot accurately calculate the specific date of the beginning and end of the “period”. Such vagueness in the cycle and period in women was the reason why birth control pills were invented, which completely suppress ovulation and control the cycle, thanks to the artificial hormones in their composition.

Contraception not only reduces the chances of getting pregnant to zero (if used correctly), but also ensures the regularity of a woman’s cycle.

Well-being during pregnancy

5. Pregnancy is annoying

Do you think that hormones drive you crazy only during puberty or during “these” days? Everything changes when a woman becomes pregnant.

HcG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone produced exclusively by the cells of the developing placenta.

Pregnancy tests are nothing more than checking the body for the presence of this hormone. It is its presence in the body that gives such long-awaited and cherished or, on the contrary, shocking two stripes on the test.

As the placenta grows, the level of this hormone rises sharply during the first trimester. Therefore, very often, most pregnant women suffer from nausea in the morning.

The HcG hormone makes a woman more susceptible to disease because the immune system weakens, so Almost everyone knows this scary word- toxicosis.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone play a very active role here too. Thanks to estrogen, a pregnant woman's breasts grow and the baby's organs develop.

However, due to a weakened immune system, a woman’s skin becomes sensitive and rashes may appear. And herself future mom may be susceptible to various acute respiratory infections.

Hormone progesterone regulates the functions of the placenta, expands the uterus, but it also causes heartburn and indigestion.

Only a few women can be called lucky who do not experience any health problems during pregnancy.

It is worth remembering that during pregnancy you can undermine your health more than ever, so you should take your well-being more seriously and especially carefully monitor the hormonal levels that are raging at this time.

Female hormones in men

6. Not only women have female hormones.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone are traditionally associated with the weaker sex. But just as women have testosterone (the dominant male hormone), so too There is a "female hormone" in a man's body. just in smaller quantities.

In fact, in my own way chemical composition estrogen is very close to testosterone. In men, estrogen is produced from testosterone under the action of an enzyme aromatase.

This adrenal enzyme helps regulate the male reproductive system and also affects his behavior. The older a man gets, the higher the level of estrogen in the body. Testosterone levels, on the other hand, decrease as a man ages.

Estrogen imbalances in men can cause significant health problems. Sometimes a surge of estrogen in the body is a result of obesity, as this The “female” hormone is produced mainly in fat cells.

In men, patients diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer or suffering from heart failure, the level of tarragon went off scale or, on the contrary, was below the norm.

So maintaining hormonal balance very important when it comes to men's health. Progesterone in a man's body helps regulate estrogen levels. Therefore, when doctors discover an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone in a man's body, he is prescribed hormonal supplements.

Women's menopause period

7. Menopause is a gradual process

Essentially, menopause just means that a woman ceases to be able to bear children. A post-menopausal woman is considered to be one who has not had periods for 12 consecutive months.

Most of us have heard about the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Rush of blood to the head, increased sweating at night and rapid heartbeat - this is an incomplete list unpleasant symptoms.

Women are afraid of this moment in advance, when their body begins to adapt to new way. Of course, all changes are associated with hormones or, more precisely, with a decrease in the production of hormones by the ovaries.

You may not realize that menopause is a rather slow and gradual process. Menopause does not immediately turn off a woman's hormonal levels. Sometimes menopause can last for many years .