Mucus schedule closer to menstruation. How to determine normal or pathological discharge before menstruation. Symptoms of PMS in premenopausal women

31.10.2019

Most women are familiar with the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Many of them suffer not so much from the ailments of menstruation itself, but from the condition that precedes it. The reason for this is the hormonal changes that occur in the body on the eve of menstruation. The functioning of various organs, as well as the nervous system, is disrupted. This leads to headaches, depression, irritability. It is necessary to know what physiological processes they are associated with. Then, perhaps, it will be easier to cope with unpleasant symptoms.

After ovulation, the so-called luteal phase begins, preceding the onset of menstruation. Preparation for it begins in the body in advance. Under the influence of hormones, changes occur in the state of the mammary glands and genital organs. The brain, the central nervous system reacts to hormonal processes.

Most women experience characteristic symptoms before their period as a result. For some, they begin 2 days before menstruation, for others - 10. Violations with varying degrees of severity appear. With the onset of critical days, they disappear. These symptoms are collectively referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It has been noticed that PMS is stronger in women who suffer from gynecological or any other diseases.

Night shift work, exposure to harmful substances, lack of sleep, malnutrition, troubles and conflicts are all factors that increase ailments before menstruation.

Note: There is such a theory that discomfort before menstruation is the body's reaction to the lack of conception, which is a natural completion of the physiological processes occurring in the female reproductive system.

Signs of approaching menstruation

The symptoms of PMS can vary from woman to woman. The nature of the manifestations is influenced by heredity, lifestyle, age, state of health. The most obvious signs of approaching menstruation include the following:

irritability;
depressed state, feeling of inexplicable melancholy, depression;
fatigue, headaches;
drop in blood pressure;
inability to concentrate, deterioration of attention and memory;
sleep disturbance;
constant feeling of hunger;
pain in the chest;
the occurrence of edema and weight gain due to fluid retention in the body;
indigestion, bloating;
drawing pains in the back.

There is a mild form of PMS (the presence of 3-4 symptoms that disappear with the onset of menstruation) and a severe form (the appearance of most symptoms at the same time 5-14 days before menstruation). It is not always possible for a woman to cope with severe manifestations on her own. Sometimes only hormonal drugs can help.

Varieties of PMS

Depending on what signs prevail in a woman before menstruation, the following forms of PMS are distinguished.

Edema. With this form, women feel pain in the mammary glands more acutely, their legs and arms swell, skin itching appears, and increased sweating.

Cephalgic. Every time before menstruation there is dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, radiating to the eyes. Often these symptoms are combined with pain in the heart.

Neuropsychic. Symptoms such as depressed mood, irritability, tearfulness, aggressiveness, intolerance to loud sounds and bright lights predominate.

Crisis. Before menstruation, women experience crises: blood pressure rises, pulse quickens, limbs go numb, pains appear in the retrosternal region, and fear of death arises.

Causes of various PMS symptoms

The severity of PMS manifestations depends mainly on the degree of hormonal changes and the state of the nervous system. An important role is played by the psychological attitude. If a woman is active, busy with interesting things, then she does not feel the symptoms of the onset of menstruation as acutely as a suspicious pessimist suffering from the mere thought of impending ailments. The appearance of each symptom can be found an explanation.

Increase in body weight. On the one hand, its cause is a decrease in the level of estrogen in the blood in the second phase of the cycle. By accumulating adipose tissue capable of releasing estrogens, the body makes up for their shortage. There is also a deficiency of glucose in the blood, which leads to increased feelings of hunger. For many women, eating delicious food is a way to take their mind off troubles and worries.

Changes in mood. The cause of aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety, depression is the lack of “pleasure hormones” (endorphin, serotonin, dopamine) in the body, the production of which decreases during this period.

Nausea. Before menstruation, the uterus increases slightly due to the growth and loosening of the endometrium. At the same time, it can exert pressure on the nerve endings, the irritation of which causes the appearance of a gag reflex. To provoke the occurrence of nausea can take hormonal drugs and contraceptives. If a woman constantly has such a symptom before menstruation, then perhaps this remedy is contraindicated for her. It must be replaced with something else.

Warning: Nausea before the expected period can be a sign of pregnancy. With this in mind, a woman should first of all do a test and visit a doctor to clarify her condition.

Pain in the lower abdomen. Weak pulling pain in the lower abdomen is considered normal before menstruation, if the woman has no cycle disorders, there are no pathological discharges and other signs of diseases of the genital organs. If the pain is severe, does not subside after taking painkillers, then it is imperative to go to the doctor, undergo an examination to find out the causes of the pathology.

Temperature rise. Before menstruation, the temperature can normally rise to 37 ° -37.4 °. The appearance of a higher temperature becomes a sign of the presence of an inflammatory process in the uterus or ovaries. As a rule, there are other signs of violations, forcing a woman to visit a doctor.

The appearance of acne. Such a symptom occurs before menstruation as a result of endocrine disorders, intestinal diseases, a decrease in the body's defenses, a violation of fat metabolism due to changes in hormone production.

The appearance of edema. Hormonal changes cause a slowdown in the process of water-salt metabolism in the body, which leads to fluid retention in the tissues.

Enlargement of the mammary glands. There is an increase in the level of progesterone and the preparation of the body for a possible onset of pregnancy. The ducts and lobules swell, blood circulation increases. The breast tissues are stretched, which leads to a dull pain when touched.

Video: Why appetite increases before menstruation

Under what conditions do similar manifestations occur?

Often women confuse the manifestations of PMS and pregnancy. Nausea, dizziness, enlargement and soreness of the mammary glands, increased whiteness are characteristic of both conditions.

If there are symptoms, and menstruation is delayed, then, most likely, pregnancy has occurred. To make sure that this is the case, it is recommended to take a blood test for the content of chorionic hormone (hCG is formed after pregnancy).

Similar symptoms also appear with endocrine diseases, the formation of tumors of the mammary glands, and the use of hormonal drugs.

Symptoms of the approach in adolescents of the first menstruation

Puberty begins in girls at the age of 11-15 years. Their character is finally established only after 1-2 years. A girl can learn about the imminent onset of the first menstruation by characteristic manifestations. Already 1.5-2 years before the onset of this event, a teenage girl has white discharge. Immediately before the appearance of the first menstruation, the whites become more intense and liquid.

There may be a slight pulling pain in the ovaries due to their growth and stretching. PMS often manifests itself quite weakly, but there may be deviations comparable in nature to the manifestations of PMS in adult women. One of the characteristic signs of teenage PMS is the formation of acne on the face. The reason is the fluctuation in the level of sex hormones, the effect of this process on the condition of the skin.

Video: Signs of approaching menstruation in girls

Symptoms of PMS in premenopausal women

After 40-45 years, women show the first signs of aging and a decrease in the level of sex hormones. There are menstrual disorders, metabolism slows down, chronic diseases of the genital organs often become aggravated. The condition of the nervous system worsens. As a result of this, the manifestations of PMS are even more intensified.

Many women of this age experience severe headaches, dizziness, increased sweating, increased heart rate, mood swings, and depression before menstruation. Often, such manifestations of PMS are so painful that hormone therapy is prescribed to alleviate the condition with drugs that regulate the content of estrogens, progesterone and other hormones in the body.

The concept of the menstrual cycle means the painstaking work of the body, which is preparing for the conception of a child: the uterus is lined with a special layer of tissue, a comfortable place for the baby is prepared for the period of pregnancy, the egg matures. If conception did not take place, then the body gets rid of the achieved results in order to start all over again.

Before the start of a new cycle, a woman experiences unpleasant moments or signs before menstruation, called PMS. They are accompanied by lingering pains in the lower abdomen, increased irritability, fatigue. However, pregnancy and menstruation, the symptoms of which are very similar, may have similar signs. It is important for every woman to learn to distinguish them from each other.

Menstruation or pregnancy

As soon as fertilization has occurred in the woman's body, the menstrual cycle is suspended until the birth of the child.

However, in some cases, women still bleed for several months. These discharges can hardly be called a full menstruation. They are not abundant, brownish or reddish in color. In essence, a fertilized egg implants itself in the walls of the uterus, resulting in minor tears with bloody discharge. They may appear once, or they may occur periodically, the fruit shelf will not reach a certain size. Such discharge cannot be called menstruation, and their appearance is a reason for a visit to the doctor.

The main signs before menstruation

Unpleasant sensations associated with the onset of menstruation can be very individual. However, the most common signs of menstruation are:

pain in the lumbar region, abdomen, chest;
depressed mood, combined with sleep disorders;
headache.

If we compare the symptoms of menstruation with the first signs of pregnancy, we can conclude that they are very similar. In the early stages of pregnancy, a woman may be drowsy, irritable, with sudden mood swings. To understand the manifestations of the body, you need to learn to listen to yourself, feel the changes.

Watch yourself for a few months. If the symptoms before menstruation are headache and backache, then it is likely that these signs will not bother you with the onset of pregnancy. If, on the contrary, the signs of the onset of menstruation are unknown to you, then it can be said with sufficient certainty that pregnancy has occurred if you are tormented by migraines, excessive irritability, and mood swings.

Temperature changes can also indicate a change in condition. A woman's temperature rises by several degrees during ovulation. If she returned to a constant indicator, then it is worth preparing for the onset of menstruation. If the temperature column is frozen at an increased rate, then we can talk about the onset of pregnancy. However, in this method there is an error in individual characteristics. In order to talk with confidence about normal or elevated temperature, it must be measured daily for several months in a row in order to have a picture of changes in body temperature over a certain period.

pregnancy symptoms

In addition to the delay in menstruation, pregnancy can manifest itself in a number of other symptoms:

Constant fatigue can be caused by hormonal changes in the body, which are among the first signs of conception.
The reaction of the chest may become exacerbated. All touches to it turn into painful, sometimes there is an increase in volume.
Cramping, pain in the lower abdomen, which happens before menstruation, can be one of the signs of pregnancy before a delay.
Small vaginal discharge, which is a sign of the attachment of the egg to the uterus.
Nausea can appear along with a delay in menstruation and pass quickly enough or accompany a woman during her entire pregnancy.
The constant urge to urinate is associated with a gradual increase in blood in the body, as well as other fluids that ensure the vital activity of the mother and the unborn baby. The longer the pregnancy, the more often you have to go to the toilet. However, this symptom should not be confused with a possible manifestation of inflammatory diseases, such as cystitis.
Graphics glitches. If earlier menstruation appeared on a clearly marked day, and now even after PMS there are no periods, then fertilization may have occurred.
Susceptibility to smells is one of the early signs of pregnancy and is caused by a sharp increase in the level of estrogen in the blood.
Increasing the temperature by a few divisions can tell a lot, but for this you will have to keep a temperature log.
Positive test response. Pharmacy tests can rarely determine pregnancy earlier than there is a delay in menstruation. If you notice other signs of pregnancy, and the test shows a negative result, it is worth repeating the test in a few days.

What a woman should always pay attention to

Soreness of the mammary glands, an increase in volume and swelling may indicate both menstruation and pregnancy. The appearance of colostrum secreted from the nipples will tilt the diagnosis in favor of the latter. However, chest pain in a specific area, combined with discharge from the nipples, against the background of the exclusion of pregnancy, is a reason for an urgent appeal to a mammologist, since such symptoms may indicate oncology.

All of the above has one big correction: each organism has its own individuality. If you cannot determine exactly what signs are bothering you, buy a pharmacy test. If according to the schedule you have a delay, and you admit the presence of pregnancy, you can contact a gynecologist who will examine you and prescribe appropriate tests. However, in most cases, a woman intuitively determines the presence of pregnancy better than any tests and analyzes.

This phenomenon in girls is considered a normal process. They occur periodically in any of the fair sex. Often indicate the onset of pregnancy, often - a translucent thin liquid without odor and other symptoms. Whether this is a pathology, we will find out below in the article.

The body of a woman gives the first signals of pregnancy even before the delay in menstruation. Of course, such signs are not always one hundred percent and are not observed in all expectant mothers.

Below we consider what symptoms can tell a woman that she will soon become a mother:

emotional instability
slight malaise
swelling and pain in the chest
drowsiness
drawing pain below the navel
nausea, vomiting
low pressure
the appearance or increase of whites
delayed menstruation
muscle cramps
frequent urination
brown or pinkish mucus

Of course, these signs are relative. Even a pregnancy test can be false positive.

Such vivid symptoms are observed only in the first pregnancy, in the subsequent, the woman may not be aware that she is in position.

Sometimes in women with gynecological ailments, the first symptoms of pregnancy are felt brighter, because pain may occur in the lumbar region and appendages.

What discharge is considered normal?

Every day, absolutely any girl can notice mucus on her underpants. This phenomenon is considered normal - such is the physiology of the female sex. Sometimes it signals that there is an infection or inflammation in the body, then the secretion secreted changes color and smell.

Whites have a sourish or neutral smell. The excreted secret consists of lactobacilli, since the vagina has a slightly acidic environment. The main function of mucus is to create a normal environment for conceiving a child. And also the allocated secret provides lubrication to the external genital organs. Therefore, such whites are considered the norm.

There are a number of signs when a woman herself can diagnose that the secreted mucus does not belong to pathology:

Whites change shade depending on the period of the cycle (they are white, cream, yellowish or transparent).
The smell is neutral or slightly sour.
The released secret is both liquid and viscous.
The amount of secretion secreted is different, but not more than a teaspoon per day.
Before the onset of menstruation, after sex or during a period of excitement, their volume increases significantly.

Remember that if the secreted mucus does not entail and does not have a specific smell, this is not a pathology, but a normal process.

There are quite a few factors that influence the onset of the disease:

hormonal imbalance
taking certain hormonal drugs
the period of gestation, as a woman's immunity decreases
neglect of personal hygiene
improperly selected cosmetics for the care of intimate places
uncontrolled
stress
malnutrition and more

If such unpleasant symptoms appear, visit a gynecologist. You can not prescribe drugs for yourself, otherwise it will lead to irreparable consequences.

When does this phenomenon refer to pathology?

Under the influence of various factors, pathogenic microorganisms begin to multiply in large numbers, which further leads to inflammation.

So, what signs indicate a pathological process:

The consistency of the excreted secret is similar to cottage cheese, while it is combined with various unpleasant symptoms - this indicates candidiasis.
The daily amount of secretion secreted exceeds a teaspoon.
The discharge has changed color to greenish, yellowish or brown.
Appeared.
Pain below the navel, pain during urination, redness of the intimate area and other symptoms.

Such signs indicate the onset of the inflammatory process in the female body.

How to determine the disease by the color of the discharge?

Unfortunately, there are too many reasons that cause a change in the shade of the allocated secret. Therefore, a doctor can make a correct diagnosis and only after examination and passing a series of tests. Unmistakably, without laboratory tests, only thrush can be determined. But here, too, there is one caveat: such a pathology may well be combined with other ailments, so only an examination will determine the obvious cause of the change in the shade of whiter.

Types of selections:

Foamy discharge - obvious.
Gray color with a fishy odor indicates gardnerellosis or bacterial vaginosis.
A green tint indicates a clear purulent process.
Yellow indicates .
White curdled discharge - thrush.
Beli without accompanying unpleasant symptoms is the norm.

Don't stay at home. It is worth remembering: untimely treatment of some serious ailments leads to infertility.

White in the absence of menstruation

Beli in the absence of menstruation can be normal or pathological. It all depends on a number of reasons, which you will find out below.

Main reasons:

Wash twice a day.
Choose the right soap for intimate hygiene.
Stop having sex for a while, especially if you're unsure about your partner.
Do not swim in water bodies.
Take a shower instead of a bath.
Change linen daily (it should be only from natural fabrics).

The main rule is a constant visit to the gynecologist. Only a gynecologist will be able to cure all pathologies in a timely manner.

Sometimes such a sign can indicate the onset of pregnancy. With a delay in menstruation for more than 4 days, it is recommended to visit a specialist. Only a gynecologist can confirm pregnancy.

You should not sit at home, you should remember that the secret that is not always allocated indicates pregnancy and is not the norm.

Sep 17, 2017 Violetta Doctor

Vaginal discharge in a woman is an indicator of her health. They can appear before menstruation, with various pathologies, and also signal the onset of pregnancy. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between them. What are the differences between discharge before menstruation and during pregnancy?

Menstruation and pregnancy are two natural states of a woman. Each of them may be preceded by vaginal discharge of different consistency and color. The quality of the secret must be paid attention to. He is able to warn a woman about an interesting situation that has come or signal an impending illness.

The differences between the discharge before menstruation and pregnancy must be clearly differentiated. If a lady wants to conceive a child or just has a chance to get pregnant, she needs to carefully monitor her condition. The nature of the discharge can tell about changes in the body at a time when no other test can help.

In the second half of the cycle, hormonal changes occur in the body of the fair sex. Gram-negative rods gradually begin to dominate in the vaginal microflora. As a result, the discharge becomes more viscous, slightly transparent, sometimes creamy. In a healthy body, they do not have a specific smell or color and do not cause discomfort.

If the shade or consistency of the discharge changes, this may indicate a pathology:

scarlet, mucous membranes - cervicitis, cervical erosion;
cheesy - candidiasis;
foamy, purulent - sexually transmitted diseases;
brown - hormonal imbalance, endometritis, endometriosis, fibroids, polyps;
green, yellow - sexually transmitted diseases, inflammatory processes in the uterus, ovary.

These discharges are not normal and should be alarming. If they are found, it is advisable for a woman to consult a doctor.

Sometimes the fair sex does not know that she is pregnant. In the first weeks, vaginal discharge can tell about this, which changes qualitatively after fertilization has taken place. What should be the discharge before menstruation if there is a pregnancy?

After conception, during the period of attachment of the embryo to the walls of the uterus, white thick mucus of a matte shade comes out of the vagina. Its difference from the discharge before the usual menstruation is that the consistency of the secret is thicker, the color is saturated, whitish, while before the menstruation the mucus is more transparent, liquid.

The volume of allocations also differs. Before menstruation, they are much more abundant than during pregnancy. Therefore, in order to detect conception without tests and examination by a gynecologist, it is necessary to analyze every month how much mucus regularly comes out of the vagina.

Read also:

If conception has occurred, the discharge after ovulation may be brownish, mixed with blood. They are usually darker than during menstruation. This situation is not considered normal and indicates a threat of miscarriage. The reason is the lack of the hormone progesterone in the woman's body, which is responsible for attaching the embryo to the walls of the uterus. If a pregnant woman finds such discharge in herself, she should immediately consult a doctor.

Additional signs will help to distinguish the completed conception from the upcoming regular menstruation.

What else will help to recognize an interesting position?

Differences in discharge before menstruation and during pregnancy are not the only symptom of an interesting situation. If you suspect pregnancy, pay attention to accompanying signs that will not allow you to make a mistake. It:

morning sickness, malaise;
not coming full-fledged menstruation, despite previous symptoms;
breast changes (the nipples become more tender, the veins on the chest increase, the bumps on the halo become larger);
constant fatigue associated with changes in metabolism;
frequent urination;
constipation, flatulence;
nasal congestion, signs of a cold;
changes in the sharpness of smell, taste;
emotional instability;
high basal temperature (this indicator is extremely difficult to control, since preliminary measurements are required within 2 months).

Before menstruation, these signs are absent. Only pulling pains in the abdomen, general weakness and an increase in libido immediately before menstruation can be noted.

1. Every woman should have a vaginal discharge because that is how it cleanses itself and protects it from external potential threats in the form of pathogens.

2. The average amount of discharge is about a teaspoon per day, but there may be acceptable individual fluctuations. The volume of normal secretions can be affected by: pregnancy, emotional state, hormonal disorders (irregular menstrual cycle, diabetes, thyroid disease), changes in body weight, both upward and downward, climate change, frequency of sexual activity, sports.

3. The main characteristics of the correct secretions: white, mucous, odorless or with a slight sour-milk odor.

4. With a regular cycle, the selections change depending on the phase of the cycle:

after menstruation- white, liquid, few of them;
near the middle of the cycle- similar to egg white;
after ovulation- dairy;
closer to menstruation small lumps and slight itching may appear.

5. If you are taking contraceptives or you do not have a regular cycle, the discharge will not change, there may be more of them and they are closer in appearance to diluted milk.

6. Incorrect discharges include:

the appearance of a smell (fishy, rotten, sweetish);
color (yellow, greenish, gray);
consistency (thick, curdled, frothy, watery, creamy)

7. The main companion of bad discharge is a local reaction of the mucous membrane: itching, burning, irritation and discomfort, pain during urination (during the entire act, and not at the end), swelling, redness, the presence of vesicles or sores, pain and discomfort during sexual activity .

8. If there is an unusual discharge, but there are no symptoms listed, it is possible that the color and consistency have changed for another reason. For example, the yellow spectrum of discharge - from pale yellow to dark brown and even black, as well as green shades up to brown tones - may mean the presence of a small amount of blood in the discharge. The color of the shade is associated with the oxidation of iron in the hemoglobin of erythrocytes in the acidic environment of the vagina and the degree of dilution of the blood with white secretions. Such discharge occurs after menstruation or a few days before it. The main thing is that there are no local reactions!

9. Blood in the discharge (or brown discharge) outside of menstruation is most often a manifestation of the disease (normally it can be in a small amount against the background of taking hormonal contraceptives). What to do? An examination by a gynecologist and ultrasound is necessary. In the middle of the cycle, there may normally be small spotting accompanying ovulation, but a check is still needed. Discharge before and after menstruation - occasionally may be normal, but the presence of prolonged and constant discharge is a sign of the disease (endometriosis, polyps, etc.)

10. The main diseases in which the discharge changes:

bright white curdled discharge with itching - thrush;
gray-white discharge with the smell of fish or rotten meat - bacterial vaginosis;
yellowish discharge of a thick consistency with a sweet smell - aerobic vaginitis;
yellowish watery frothy discharge with an unpleasant odor + itching + pain during urination + pain during sexual activity - trichomoniasis;
a similar picture, but the discharge is thicker and there are shades of green + pain in the lower abdomen - gonorrhea (but in 50% it may be asymptomatic);

11.Remember- not all altered discharge + itching = thrush, that is, without tests, by eye, it is not necessary to make a diagnosis on your own and you should not take drugs for thrush.

12. Combined suppositories (terzhinan, polygynax, makmiror, neopenotran) - can reduce symptoms, but not cure the disease. It is important! As well as hexicon, which is essentially a simple antiseptic. They can be prescribed after taking tests until the results are obtained, after which the main treatment is prescribed.

13. The gold standard for diagnosing the condition of the vagina will be a combination of a regular swab for flora and an assessment of the quantitative composition of the vaginal microflora (femoflor 17 (in vitro) or florocenosis (cmd). The CMD laboratory has a comprehensive analysis number 310004 which includes all of the above, including STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis).

14.Contribute to disruption of flora: taking antibiotics, stress (emotional, in response to hypothermia, lack of sleep, overwork), vaginal showers, cunnilingus, insertion of fingers into the vagina during masturbation, use of saliva as "lubrication", use of "toys", anal sex, especially insertion penis from the rectum to the vagina.

15. Algorithm for evaluating your allocations:

First of all, evaluate Smell(there is a smell, it is unpleasant) - there is a problem; there is no smell or it is sour-milk - there are no problems;
Color- different from white and there is itching, burning and other local symptoms - a problem with the flora; there are no additional symptoms - most likely it is blood - in addition to an examination by a gynecologist, an ultrasound scan and a cytological smear are required.
Consistency- we recall the phase of the cycle (there are no phases of the cycle on monophasic contraceptives): few and mucous membranes - the beginning of the cycle, transparent viscous - the middle, dairy - the second phase. Thick, creamy, frothy, watery - there is a problem with the flora. If there is a discharge that is not white (greenish, yellowish, but there are no local symptoms), and the smear is normal - the color is changed by blood - look for the cause (cervical pathology, polyp, endometriosis, etc.).

16. If there was a long break in sexual activity, after the first intercourse, even with a condom, discharge may change and there may be discomfort during urination - most often this is a reaction to intercourse after a break, which disappears on its own within a couple of days, but can often lead to development of bacterial vaginosis. If it has not passed within two days - see paragraph 15 for an assessment of discharge.

17. What can prevent changes in the flora in the vagina?

give up vaginal showers (you don’t need to wash the vagina inside), all hygiene movements are only from front to back; wear thongs less often;
in general, wear underwear less often (you need to sleep without underwear) - air must enter the vagina, since oxygen is necessary for lactobacilli - your main defenders;
change tampons and/or pads more often; do not use tampons for scanty spotting.