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What Happens to Hormones During PMS?

Autumn Rivers
Autumn Rivers

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is usually caused by fluctuating hormones just prior to menstruation. More specifically, excess estrogen during the luteal phase is often to blame for the various symptoms that many women get during PMS. Thus, when estrogen does not decrease in response to rising levels of progesterone, symptoms like breast tenderness and mood swings can result. While there are various medications available to treat the symptoms of PMS, there is no drug available to balance the hormones, which often means that premenstrual syndrome cannot be prevented.

What happens to the hormones during PMS is often easier to understand when the different phases in the cycle are explained. The first day of the period begins the follicular phase, during which estrogen is the dominant hormone. It ends after about two weeks, culminating in ovulation, which is typically when the egg is released from the ovary. Once ovulation has passed, the luteal phase begins, which is typically dominated by progesterone. In women with particularly extreme premenstrual syndrome symptoms, estrogen is one of the prevailing hormones during PMS, even during the time that it is supposed to decrease to make room for progesterone.

Female reproductive system.
Female reproductive system.

Thus, the imbalance of hormones during PMS is often to blame for the various symptoms that many women regularly get. One of the most common signs of premenstrual syndrome includes mood swings, causing many women to feel depressed or irritable for no particular reason. Many women also feel exhausted, yet may have trouble sleeping. Of course, there are some physical changes, as well, such as bloating, acne, and larger breasts that feel sore. The length of time that women experience such symptoms largely depends on how long the imbalance of hormones during PMS lasts, which means that some women have to endure them for more than a week before menstruation while others may only notice them for a day or two.

Excess estrogen causes most of the symptoms leading up to menstruation.
Excess estrogen causes most of the symptoms leading up to menstruation.

There are medications on the market that aim to relieve some of the most common symptoms, but they cannot completely cure premenstrual syndrome. This is because there is no surefire way to balance out the hormones during PMS. Additionally, it should be noted that the symptoms tend to get worse over time, which means that young women who do not experience them may start noticing them as they get older. The good news is that the only way to tell that the hormones are not balanced is through the signs of PMS, which is why most women are satisfied to just treat the symptoms.

Discussion Comments

Rotergirl

@Pippinwhite -- Thanks for sharing your experience. If my doc ever mentions tri-phasal pills, I'll say no thank you.

I'm on the pill primarily to treat my PMS symptoms. I get teary and weepy if I'm not taking the pills. I also have terrible headaches, bloating and cramps.

It seemed like my migraines were less frequent when I got my hormones leveled out, too. So in my case, my hormones are all over the place when I have PMS. That's what causes it to start with. Birth control pills saved my sanity.

Pippinwhite

About the only realistic remedy for bad PMS is birth control pills, if you can take them. But you have to be careful. I was taking single phase pills and doing well, when my doc put me on the tri-phasal kind, because they supposedly mimic the natural levels in your body during the month.

Bad idea. I was just this close to being homicidal. I kid you not. I was actively plotting how to do away with a couple of co-workers and was really wishing someone would pick a fight with me at work. I was also spotting constantly. One month of that nonsense was enough. I went back on the regular kind and my moods immediately evened out and I felt 100 percent better.

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    • Female reproductive system.
      By: chart
      Female reproductive system.
    • Excess estrogen causes most of the symptoms leading up to menstruation.
      By: lukasmajercik
      Excess estrogen causes most of the symptoms leading up to menstruation.
    • During PMS, estrogen is supposed to decrease to make room for progesterone.
      By: logos2012
      During PMS, estrogen is supposed to decrease to make room for progesterone.
    • When estrogen does not decrease in response to rising levels of progesterone, women may experience symptoms like breast tenderness.
      By: Marin Conic
      When estrogen does not decrease in response to rising levels of progesterone, women may experience symptoms like breast tenderness.
    • Most girls start to menstruate between the age of 10 and 15 years old.
      By: Maya Kruchancova
      Most girls start to menstruate between the age of 10 and 15 years old.