Period FAQs

why do i feel tired on my period

by Margaret Hand Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The fatigue that you experience during your period happens due to premenstrual

Premenstrual Syndrome

Physical and emotional symptoms experienced days before a woman's period.

syndrome (PMS). However, it could be seeding from many reasons like lack of sleep, dehydration, excessive physical activity, iron deficiency, unhealthy food habits, and even stress.

Heavy menstrual bleeding often causes women to feel tired, commonly known as period fatigue. This is normal due to the decrease in oestrogen levels, which occurs around this point in your menstrual cycle. Your energy levels will usually return to normal within a few days as your hormone levels begin to increase again.Jul 9, 2019

Full Answer

Why am I so hungry while and around my period?

This Is Why Women Feel More Hungry Around Their Period

  1. Be kind to yourself. If you’re feeling low, moody and hungry, instead of resenting yourself for it, be kind to yourself. ...
  2. Do gentle exercise and eat well. Along with that delicious chocolate, try to do gentle exercise like walking or yoga, and remember that eating healthily will actually make you ...
  3. See a GP. ...
  4. Don’t compare yourself to other women. ...

Why you should not ignore tiredness during your period?

  • Stress. Believe it or not, being under stress (especially when its chronic) can throw a wrench in your menstrual activity.
  • Extreme fluctuations in weight and physical activity. ...
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome, aka PCOS. ...
  • Hormonal birth control. ...
  • Perimenopause. ...

Why am I so itchy down there during my period?

What can cause vaginal itching during a period?

  • Causes during a period. Hormonal changes are a possible cause of vaginal itching during menstruation. ...
  • Other causes. The following conditions can cause vaginal itching at any stage of the menstrual cycle, including during menstruation.
  • Home remedies. Certain home remedies can help treat and prevent vaginal itching.
  • Treatments. ...
  • When to see a doctor. ...
  • Summary. ...

Why am I exhausted two weeks before my period?

However, if your energy takes a dip around your period, you might be experiencing fatigue due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). You’re not alone. Many people experience extreme fatigue before their period and mistake it for depression, laziness, or social withdrawal. Don’t feel bad for feeling this way — you’re not alone!

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How long after ovulation do you feel less tired?

There’s not much you can do about your body’s natural cycle, but the good news is that your energy levels tend to peak during ovulation, which is generally about two weeks after the start of your period.

How to get tired when you're tired?

There are natural ways of helping your body out when its feeling tired though; drinking water, getting at least eight hours sleep and exercising is all useful, general advice. But according to Nicole Telfer, Science Content Producer at period tracking app Clue, there are different ways to overcome your tiredness depending on what's causing it.

What happens when your uterus isn't invaded by a fertilised egg?

Then, when your uterine lining isn’t invaded by a fertilised egg, the hormones sustaining the environment aren’t needed anymore and the hormone levels plummet. When this happens, your body goes from high alert to nothing hormonally and that shift causes other changes, which are exhausting.

What foods can help with energy during menstruation?

Instead of reaching for a slab of Dairy Milk, a few foods likely to boost your energy levels while menstruating include oats (for slow release energy), red meat, ...

Can light therapy help with premenstrual mood disorder?

If you have a premenstrual mood disorder, the expert suggests you're "more likely to experience sleep disturbances like insomnia, hypersomnia, fatigue, and even disturbing dreams during the luteal phase (the second part of the menstrual cycle) which could be due to disruption in circadian rhythms." In order to overcome this, Nicole explains that some researchers suggest using light therapy may help people with severe cases, but more research in the area is needed.

Can menstrual cycle cause depression?

As well as feeling irritable and depressed, people who menstruate can also become very drained and weary, he adds (lucky us!). "It is thought that PMS could be triggered by a drop in oestrogen and serotonin, resulting in a double whammy for mood swings and energy levels."

What is PMS fatigue?

According to the Office on Women’s Health, as many as 5% of females of childbearing age experience a more severe form of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

How to help with period fatigue?

It is a symptom of PMS. Some people may be able to alleviate period fatigue and other PMS symptoms using home remedies, such as exercise, relaxation, and alternative therapies. Others may require medical treatment. Anyone who is concerned about period fatigue should see a doctor.

Why is it so hard to sleep during the night?

Disturbed sleep: Period pains and mood changes may make it difficult for a person to get to sleep or stay asleep throughout the night. The person may then experience tiredness and fatigue the following day.

What are the symptoms of a period?

Symptoms can include weakness and fatigue. Food cravings: During a period, a person may experience food cravings. Eating too much food could lead to a spike and subsequent dip in blood glucose levels. This dip could leave a person feeling tired and fatigued.

What happens if you have low iron during your period?

Low iron: Heavy bleeding during a period could lead to iron deficiency anemia. Without sufficient iron, the body is unable to produce the hemoglobin that red blood cells require to transport oxygen to the body’s cells. Symptoms can include weakness and fatigue.

How to prevent fatigue from dehydration?

Staying hydrated: Dehydration can worsen fatigue. Drinking fluids at regular intervals will help prevent dehydration.

How to improve sleep quality during period?

A person’s baseline body temperature increases by about 0.5°C before their period, which may contribute to poor or interrupted sleep. Lowering the room temperature slightly may help improve comfort and sleep quality, resulting in less fatigue the following day.

Why is it so hard to fall asleep during my period?

Stress: As we mentioned before, periods cause extra stress. This can make it hard to fall or stay asleep—despite making you feel so tired.

How long does it take for fatigue to start before your period?

While you might think that 7-days of menstrual fatigue sounds manageable, this tiredness can actually begin several days before your period does. For many women, PMS or PMDD causes fatigue and other negative symptoms in the days or weeks leading up to their period.

What can I do to relieve menstrual fatigue?

When it comes to abnormal period symptoms, the key is to find and treat the underlying cause. That is why it is important to find a doctor who is willing to take the time to really talk with you and understand your symptoms.

What hormones cause fatigue?

Estrogen dominance—fatigue from high levels of estrogen. While estrogen can give you energy, abnormally high levels of estrogen creates a hormonal imbalance. Your body’s estrogen will begin overpowering your body’s progesterone levels. Progesterone is responsible for regulating your period.

What hormones are responsible for regulating your period?

Progesterone is responsible for regulating your period. It also plays a key role in offsetting the negative side effects that estrogen can create. One of these—as you may have guessed—is fatigue. When your estrogen levels are much higher than your progesterone levels, this condition is called estrogen dominance.

What happens when you are in menopause?

As your body prepares for menopause, you will begin to notice differences in your period, body, and overall well being. This may include fatigue. Harvard Health Publishing reports that 40% of perimenopausal women have difficulty sleeping. Fatigue and other pre-menopausal challenges can seem overwhelming and inevitable.

What happens when you have your period?

In the weeks leading up to your period, your body prepares for a potential pregnancy with spikes in your estrogen levels. These hormones work in overdrive to create the perfect environment for a fertilized egg. Once your period arrives, your body realizes that you no longer need those high estrogen levels to sustain a pregnancy, causing them to drop off.

Why does menstruation make you feel so tired?

Lacking in energy around the time of your menstrual period is common, many women experience this and they are left feeling quite lethargic. Our expert Emma Thornton explains why this happens and how home and herbal remedies can help.

How can my doctor help?

If your energy slumps are becoming too much it might be time to visit your doctor. Depending on whether or not your lack of energy appears to be in sync with your menstrual cycle, your doctor can run any necessary tests.

Did you know?

Did you know the average age of starting your periods has changed? A 100 years ago, 16 was the average age for a girl to get her first period in the UK but now this has dropped to just 12! Incredible!

What is the best medicine for PMS?

Agnus castus – Having anaemia contributing to your lack of energy often comes hand in hand with heavy periods and very heavy periods are often a sign you have an oestrogen imbalance! Agnus castus is a licensed herbal remedy which is used to help relieve symptoms of PMS.

What hormone balances oestrogen and progesterone?

Oestrogen is often referred to as the ‘stimulating’ sex hormone, whereas progesterone is the ‘calming’ one. Basically progesterone is there to balance oestrogen and the two should coordinate quite nicely.

What hormones fluctuate in a similar way each month?

This makes sense as these hormones fluctuate in a similar way each month and if there is some imbalance then you could suffer recurring symptoms each time you menstruate. In terms of sex hormones, the two main ones are oestrogen and progesterone.

Why does oestrogen make me feel zapped?

Your stimulating hormone oestrogen being down can leave you feeling zapped of all energy. This is can be made worse if progesterone is particularly high relative to the levels of oestrogen. This is common in the menopause but can occur in many women, especially if you are prone to very light, irregular periods.

How to get rid of tiredness during period?

Some ways to combat the feeling of tiredness during your period include drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, eating healthy, getting at least 8 hours of sleep, and doing some physical activity or exercise – as it is the best fighter of fatigue.

What is it called when you have a heavy period?

Many women suffer from menorrhagia, which is more commonly known as heavy periods. Around 1 in 3 women will seek treatment for the issue.

When Is a Period Heavy?

Though the degree of menstrual bleeding differs from woman to woman, a period can be considered ‘heavy” when the following symptoms occur:

How to tell if you have thyroid problems?

Your GP can determine if you have a thyroid problem by carrying out a thyroid function test, taking a blood sample to measure hormone levels. If diagnosed, hormone replacement tablets are prescribed and should be taken daily, with blood tests being carried out regularly to monitor hormone levels.

How long does it take for energy levels to return to normal?

Your energy levels will usually return to normal within a few days as your hormone levels begin to increase again. However, for some women, fatigue may last longer and be more extreme. Some women may find themselves completely sluggish and unable to properly carry out routine activities, signifying something more severe.

How to tell if you have iron deficiency?

A diagnosis can be given after carrying out a full blood test to determine whether the number of red blood cells is within the normal range. If diagnosed with anaemia, your doctor will normally advise you to take iron supplements ...

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