You probably remember learning the basics back in science class: Every month, a woman bleeds and it means she isn’t pregnant. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. When female hormones go crazy, it can affect everything from our weight and mood, to sleep and sexual desire. Let’s find out what actually goes on:
These two things aren’t the same. Periods don’t make women moody, but the real enemy here is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). When a woman’s progesterone levels drop too quickly before menstruation, she experiences PMS, which then impacts her mood during the whole cycle. It is a set of annoying hormonal changes that trigger a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms in women, which range from anger and irritability, abdominal cramping and breast tenderness, to food cravings.
Period or not, women are emotional beings. PMS can cause wild, uncontrollable mood swings in women, who may go from displaying episodes of angry outbursts and anxiety attacks, then back to being emotionally stable, all in one day. These emotional ups and downs usually start one week before the cycle begins, so that’s why sometimes we cry for no freakin’ reason.
Every month, the lining of our uterus sheds and during the course of the menstrual cycle, this lining plumps up to prepare to nourish a fertilised egg. Cramps can feel like a constant throbbing ache that can radiate from the lower abdomen to our back and thighs. It can also feel like an unbearable diarrhoea, but it’s not. It’s like your body is punishing you for being a responsible young adult and not having a baby you can’t afford. Why?! 😭
Yes, we’re aware of the existence of birth control, but there’s no such thing as hormonal control pills. When a woman gets really emotionally and acts weird during her period, don’t take it personally. It’s not pleasant, but guys don’t make it any better when they’re being jerks about it. Just stay away and we’ll hate you less.
Just as it’s starting, we’re usually ultra ready to get freaky. Out of nowhere, our bleeding ladyparts can get aroused, but the thought of having sex in this bloody mess may turn us off. We’re also extra fertile since our hormones are trying to get us to reproduce. This is probably the one time us women will want sex more than guys.
Even if we’ve been laying in bed all day, we wouldn’t be able to stop complaining about how tired we are. With everything that’s going on inside, no wonder we are! Our bodies are constantly changing, inside and out, and it’s very draining. Please spare us.
We’re not lazy, we’re just feeling really uncomfortable. At least a week before our periods, we’d start to bloat. It’s our body’s way of saying things are changing inside and it also makes us feel fat and sore, so we break out the sweats. Don’t mind us for not putting in the effort to dress up. If possible, we’d even wear our PJs to work.
Just because PMS is something we’ve dealt with since we’re pre-teens, it doesn’t mean we’ve magically learned how to control it. Trust us, women control the majority of the symptoms and men hardly even notice them. We are used to it, but it still sucks.
Our legs will be sore, our tummies will get gassy and sometimes, even bloated. Don’t even get us started on the swelling boobs.. It’s very uncomfortable to live in our own skin and this will go on between 5 to 7 days every month. Trust us, we loathe it, but we’d be glad it’s over.. for 3 weeks.
