PMS and your period are the same thing.
There’s a reason it’s called premenstrual syndrome. Menstruation is combined of two overarching phases: follicular and luteal. While the follicular phase occurs from day one of your period up to ovulation, the luteal phase occurs from the day of ovulation to the next period. It’s during the luteal phase that PMS occurs, when progesterone levels are higher—not during the period, when the uterus gives up getting pregnant that month and begins to shed its lining.
PMS is just an excuse for women to be moody.
Although a new study has found that PMS may have less to do with emotional disturbances than previously expected, PMS is more than just being cranky. Physical symptoms manifest as well; everything from abdominal cramping (dysmenorrhea) to sore breasts to aches and pains. Behavioral changes may occur as well; cravings, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disruption are all common to women who suffer from PMS.
If you’re cranky before your period, you have PMS.
Just because a bout of irritability and your luteal phase happen to coincide doesn’t mean you have clinically defined PMS. Although about 80% of women experience at least one symptom of PMS, that doesn’t mean they will be diagnosed with PMS any more than someone sneezing will be diagnosed with a cold. The truth is, the cultural expectancy of PMS may actually induce PMS symptoms. That doesn’t make them any less real, nor does it mean that the entire 80% actually have clinical PMS.
PMS is just part of life.
There’s a lot you can do to alleviate the symptoms of PMS, even if there isn’t a cure for it. Research has shown that exercise, managing stress, eating a low sodium diet, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol can all help. Getting plenty of fiber, calcium, and other essential nutrients can also help keep symptoms down. When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, talk to your doctor about more serious options, like oral contraceptives.
PMS is contagious.
Although this may sound outrageous, it isn’t without merit. A 2004 study found that 6% of men thought PMS was contagious. Not a whopping number, but still a pretty large body of people to suspect they can catch something related to hormones and nutritional intake.
