Reason why you feel so tired on your period and when to be concerned
A women's health expert has finally offered an explanation as to why so many women feel both emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted when their 'time of the month' rolls back around.
When you're 'due on', there are several symptoms you can thankfully get yourself prepared for.
You can stock up on paracetamol for cramps, and ibuprofen for lower back pain. You can fill your hot water bottle up to help ease pain, and you can whip out your skincare go-to's for when that frustrating hormonal break-out re-emerges.
When it comes to the fatigue that also comes hand-in-hand with monthly menstruation, however, that can often be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
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And while we may worry we're being overdramatic when we inform our employers we're feeling under the weather due to period-based woes, it may surprise you to learn that, menstrual fatigue is actually a medically-recognised ailment.
And that's not all - it's also been proven to lessen our productivity and trigger brain fog.
So, actually, we're pretty justified in our complaints.
But what exactly causes period fatigue?
Whilst it might be obvious to some, it's firstly important to note that period fatigue is a symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which occurs due to hormonal changes caused by menstruation, and apparently, over 90 percent of women suffer some form of health decline during this phase of the month.
Other PMS symptoms which usually accompany this exhaustion are the likes of headaches, sleeping problems, anxiety, irritability or bloating.
But looking at tiredness specifically, this can be caused by one three factors:
Low iron - when you're losing blood through your period, your iron levels will naturally decrease. This leaves your body unable to produce the hemoglobin that red blood cells require to transport oxygen to cells, triggering exhaustion.
Food cravings - eating too much of a certain food during menstruation can lead to a dip in blood glucose levels, leading the person feeling fatigued.
Disturbed sleep - women on their periods can often suffer with a difficulty in sleeping, which can also lead on to tiredness during the day.
Are there any courses of treatment?
Thankfully, yes. In fact, there are several different options aimed at combating period fatigue.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - an example of this is ibuprofen, which can help alleviate pain and inflammation in circumstances where pain is keeping the sufferer awake.
Birth control pills - these can be prescribed by doctors in order to regulate hormone levels, which can reduce PMS symptoms altogether.
Supplements - some gynaecologists believe that calcium tablets can prevent tiredness, though a doctor should always be consulted beforehand.
There are also several environmental changes that could have a positive effect on your tiredness levels.
Adjusting room temperature - a person's body temperature increases slightly when they're menstruating, which may leave them suffering with a difficulty getting comfortable at bed time. By reducing your bedroom's temperature, however, you could ensure a better night's sleep.
Relaxation techniques - the likes of mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, gentle exercise, massage, or even something as simple as taking a warm bath before bed can hugely increase your sleepiness levels.
That said, however, doctors and gynaecologists all over the world advise that, if your period fatigue has reached such an extent that you're unable to continue with daily life, you should book an appointment with your GP, just to check everything's okay.
Topics: Health, Periods, Women's Health
Rhianna Benson