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The monthly menstrual cycle\u2019s no walk in the park for females, often bringing with it a host of unpleasant side-effects making you feel not so great. But is there really such thing as the period flu? And what can we do to mitigate against it? <\/strong><\/p>\n While some may breeze through their monthly period with only minor discomfort, for others it can be a painful and uncomfortable time where your body feels like it\u2019s under attack and there\u2019s no solution but to ride the wave.<\/p>\n These unpleasant symptoms have been coined by some as the \u2018period flu\u2019, but in reality they\u2019re part and parcel of what is known in medical terms as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and, for some, dysmenorrhea (exceedingly painful menstrual cycles), which can be triggered either by a period starting, or due to an underlying reproductive system disorder.<\/p>\n Some may also experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which involves similar symptoms to PMS alongside more negative mental and emotional responses.<\/p>\n These include feelings anxious, depressed, binge eating tendencies and problems sleeping. For urgent advice on this, call 111 or contact your GP for an emergency appointment.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> If you\u2019re prone to painful periods, you may find this results in a dip in performance every month. Although some studies suggest that you could be coming into your peak fitness phase around the time of menstruation<\/a><\/strong>, this increased capacity for stress can be overshadowed by cramps and fatigue.<\/p>\n If you fall into this bracket, it could be worth tailoring your training plan to match different stages in your menstrual cycle<\/a><\/strong>, scheduling in easier and low-intensity efforts to coincide with when your body\u2019s also dealing being on your period.<\/p>\n If the odds just aren\u2019t in your favour and your period hits the same time as race day, we\u2019ve got some useful tips on how to deal with race-day PMS<\/a><\/strong> from Dr Joanne Mallinson.<\/p>\n Painful period symptoms can arise during the four to eight-day period of menstrual bleeding, with some also feeling cramps or other pains the week or so leading up to menstruation as the body prepares itself.<\/p>\n Others may also experience symptoms after ovulation, which occurs approximately 10-16 days before menstruation commences. For most, period pains should become less severe after an initial couple of days, though this will vary for the individual.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not fully understood why women suffer with PMS, but it could be due to the changes in hormones throughout a menstrual cycle. Female hormones effect multiple physiological systems<\/a><\/strong> in the body, including how the body regulates heat, the heart and respiratory system, the metabolism, and the muscles.<\/p>\nWhat is period flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How does period flu affect athletic performance? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
How long does period flu last?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Causes of period flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n