How much does your period affect you each month?

[Puskaboots]

And how old are you?

I'm 40 and I have a day of migraine and nausea, preperiod, I have to spend a day in bed for.
Then my first day of bleeding is very painful with leg spasms and backache.

I have to make sure I don't plan on doing much that day too.

The rest of my period is unnoticed mostly and my flow is never heavy. Just a very painful start.

I've also noticed my period cramps starts a good 7 to 10 days before blood now too.

Mine were a nightmare. Migraine, nausea, flow too heavy to manage. Had a mirena and bar a bit of spotting and mild cramping and greasy skin for the first few months have now had nothing since (changed once at 6 years).

I used to have migraines and PMDD where I was suicidal for two weeks out of four. Went on the mini pill and now periods aren’t a thing for me any more. Almost 4 years.

Hardly at all. It's a bit of an inconvenience is all. My mum said hers were always the same so I'm hoping it's hereditary and DD is as lucky.

I feel rubbish for at least 5 days in the lead up to mine, then feel fine as soon as it starts. My symptoms are mainly emotional. I get so low and have awful feelings of self loathing. I try to avoid people as I know I'm not nice to be around! Physical symptoms are headaches and generally feeling tired. I'm 4& and on HRT. Im interested to see what others say as I thought this was normal.

I'm 36.

I am absolutely full of rage a few days before my period. Everything irritates me and I'm snappy and generally horrible. I do normally know it is hormonal but I still feel like I'm a complete cow for a day or so.

My periods changed a lot after having DD2. They are now much heavier on day 1 and 2 so I have to double up and use a tampon and a pad. I can't do anything too strenuous on those days and generally feel a bit rubbish and want to be off my feet. The other three days of my period are totally fine and don't cause me any issues.

I'm sick of them to be honest.

Horrific.
PMT really bad..( tried stabbing my husband) Endometriosis. PCOS.
Wearing middle out of my daughters nappies.
Migraines/ pain.
Had my 1st child age 26.. took eight years for 2nd.. two years after breast feeding her, l had total hysterectomy.

When I was a teenager I’d occasionally feel a bit faint. Since then I’ve had a life of pretty much no symptoms at all followed by a symptomless menopause. I’ve had a pretty charmed life, all things considered.

I didn't even think to list the emotional side. Yes, very down. Tearful. Angry. Snappy. Tired, so tired I could sleep for 48 hours.

38, diagnosed with endometriosis at 25. Periods have always been heavy and painful and last 7 days.
I get very bad pelvic pain in the lead up to my period which did reduce for a while after having some tissue removed (that was how my endometriosis was diagnosed as the tissue was tested)
Used to have migranes but not as much anymore, I found them to be worse when on combined pill but I know for some it's the other way round.
Mood really varies with my cycle, during ovulation mood is really elevated and I'm full of energy, then anxiety hits then low mood. Exhausted during my period and previously been dizzy and fainted but that improved with iron tablets.

Pretty bad. Terrible PMT that might qualify as PMDD. Migraines, tirednsss and acne in the run up. The period itself is very painful on day 1 plus headaches. First three days are very very heavy. I’m genuinely surprised I’m not anaemic. Period usually lasts 5-6 days. Cycles are short. Can’t wait for them to stop.

It's really interesting to see responses to this. I get a bit weepy the night before (crying over an advert on TV is the sure sign my period's about to arrive) and then maybe a few hours of cramps on the first day and that's it really. My only annoyance is that my cycles have got shorter since having DS. I am very very lucky but I've always assumed that most people fit into my category - a minor annoyance but nothing major - but I'm starting to appreciate more and more than I'm likely the outlier

Recently I've had unbelievable exhaustion, horrendous PMS (like suicidal, and furious at everything), nausea for 2/3 just before and at the start of my period.
The actual bleeding isn't a problem, and I don't have that bad cramps.

Horrendous. So bad I was mostly housebound 3 weeks in 5 by my late 30s due to pain, nausea and fatigue. I have Pcos, adenomyosis and endometriosis (stage 4) - it was everywhere. Post surgery I am a lot better but still have a lot of pain. it’s crap.

44, it hasn't affected me for years emotionally that is. Though the 1st day is painful but that's all

Terrible.

I dreaded having day one or two at work, thanks full I work four days term-Time only

Pain to the point to off passing out, diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, anaemia

Sometimes I get period flu and be in bed all weekend.

I'm 44 now and the horrible
Phase lasted 37-42. Now it's just the three weekly period or no period.

I'd consult a doctor but there aren't any.

43. Minimal pain. I'll feel a cramp and release before I come on. Actual period don't feel a thing. 2 heavy days then lighter for a day or two.

I found eating dark chocolate evey day helps - its the magnesium which prevents muscle cramps. Lots of magnesium in vegetables. Also I don't eat too much in the way of ultra processed bread, ultra processed carbs. Lots of estrogen clearing foods like brocolli and red grapes. I also eat higher carbs in the second half, root veggies etc. We need more calories to do the whole period thing.

Also I try and avoid caffeine in the few days before. That's a guaranteed migraine.

You can make the flow lighter by taking ibuprofen..no one tells you this though.

Horribly. My immunity drops away the day before my period and I get terrible cold sores. Not every single month, more in the winter, but very frequently. I'm perimenopausal and can't wait for the menopause, no more fucking horrible periods.

I have had a hysterectomy.

Before that, how much did they affect me? - they were the bane of more than 50% of my life. I bled heavily for minimum 10 days, during which the pain made me faint and prior to that I had migraines and nausea.

What a bloody nuisance they truly were. They have blighted a huge chunk of my adult life.

As so many before me have asked: would this blight have gone untreated and unresearched for so long if it had been men who suffered this?

Not too bad but I'm very irritable for a couple of days before. Mine are irregular and last about 8 days though, so always annoying when they arrive.

I'm not hugely affected with pain etc, but I still hate my periods and can't wait for them to finish. I'm 45, still getting regular periods but they are irregular in flow (some days flooding, other days very light). Get a bit grumpy (although that's becoming my new normal all the time), little bit of cramping and get period poos, but otherwise am not affected aside from the annoyance.

Absolutely awful. I'm so up down through the month it's unreal. Feel great after last period finished. Generally happy, energetic etc until I ovulate. Then the bloating starts (even my face changes shape), I get so anxious I can't leave the house, migraine after migraine and then the bleeding starts. I dread having to work or do anything at the start because I feel so weak and breathless. Oh, and I'd cheerfully drop kick my DH as far as I could.....until the bleed is finished and I feel great again. Have Absolutely had enough of feeling like this and my period ruining anything I'm looking forward to.

Terrible three day migraines either before or during my period, extreme bloating, breasts so sore I can't sleep which sometimes lasts right through to my next period. Very anxious and emotional the day before, cramping and heavy bleeding for day 1- 3.
Periods are totally irregular now ranging from 16 to 37 days between, so can't plan around them or the migraines. I also have ovulation pain around day 10 to 13.
Hot flushes can wake me two or three times a night at the moment and I'm really hoping menopause doesn't take too long. 45

CD 1-5 : unable to leave the house, torrential bleeding and clots the size of my palm. Fainting and vomiting.
CD 6-10 : heavy bleeding and exhaustion
CD 11-14 : exhaustion due to anaemia and migraines. Cant leave the house
CD 15/16 severe ovulation pain
CD 17-27 PMDD kicks in and I get migraines,
CD 28/29 cycle starts again

only lasts 2 days. Catches me by surprise each time. I get cramps day 1, otherwise wouldn't notice. 23 day cycle. I'm early 40s.