Post Menstrual Disorder
Most women are aware of pre-menstrual syndrome and its symptoms, but rarely has anyone heard of postmenstrual disorder or syndrome that occurs when their menstrual cycle is complete.
Some women experience symptoms that are identical to the ones during the premenstrual stages of the cycle. But to understand what postmenstrual disorder or syndrome really is, we have to make sense of the symptoms that women may experience after the completion of their menstrual cycle. We have also included treatments and remedies on how to control or reduce those symptoms as well.
Post PMS—am I crazy, or is it really a thing? Keep on reading to find out!
Table of Contents
What Is Postmenstrual Disorder?
Postmenstrual syndrome refers to the presence of one or more hormone-induced irregularities that occurs two weeks after a woman has completed her period. It is also known as Post Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
Similar to Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder, this is a serious condition in which normal life starts to be impacted. Work, school and relationships may suffer.
Most, if not all of the symptoms women experience during their premenstrual or menstrual stages, can also be experienced during postmenstrual stages.
Over one-third of all women are estimated to suffer from the postmenstrual syndrome during their reproductive years and then it slows down when they’re about to reach menopause. This is because hormones don’t really fluctuate once you reach menopause.
Symptoms Of Postmenstrual Syndrome
The following symptoms can occur during the day after menstrual bleeding has stopped or two weeks after that:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Back pain
- Severe cramps experienced in the abdomen. It can also reach the upper thighs and the pelvic area.
- Constipation or diarrhea.
- Fluid retention, bloating and weight gain.
- Dizziness or faintness.
- Sore breasts.
- Headaches or migraines.
- Loss or increase of appetite.
- Pain in the shoulders, neck and upper back.
- Dramatic mood swings that range from happy to sad, including aggression, depression, panic attacks, and anxiety.
- Irritability and feeling cranky
- Pain during intercourse
- Food cravings
I Get Cramps After my Period is Over
Many people complain of menstrual cramps the day or two before their period begins, and then for a day or two after. But, what about if you get cramps when your periods are over? This problem is one of the symptoms of secondary dysmenorrhea.
What are some of the causes and treatments for it? Let’s find out!
Cramps After Period Causes
There are a number of reasons for getting what seems like menstrual cramps when your period is done. Here are a few of the most common conditions:
- Endometriosis (Uterus cells grow outside the uterus)
- Adenomyosis (abnormal tissue growth in the walls of the uterus)
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID: an infection of the female reproductive hormones)
- Uterine fibroids, cysts or polyps (abnormal growths in the uterus, all quite similar to one another)
- Ectopic pregnancy (implantation of the egg outside the uterus)
- Implantation of a fertilized egg (can also cause some spotting)
- Ovulation cramps (felt on the side where the egg is being released)
As you can see pain may be a sign of something quite serious and may require a correct diagnosis in order to be treated correctly.
If you get cramps after your period is over, please check in with your doctor.
Cramps After Period Treatment Options
The treatment for cramps after your period is over depends strongly on the underlying cause. Once this condition is treated, most people find that their cramps resolve themselves.
What’s the moral of this story? Make an appointment with your doctor!
PMS Symptoms After Period
What’s the Difference Between PMS and Post-Menstrual Syndrome?
Perhaps the only difference in the symptoms between premenstrual syndrome and post menstrual syndrome is that emotions are more intense in the latter. However, this does not always appear to the case for every single person.
Of course, a vast majority of women suffer from some psychological symptoms during the pre- and period stages of their menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, the symptoms are more extreme in women with post menstrual syndrome/disorder.
What Causes Post Menstrual Disorder?
We don’t know why post menstrual syndrome occurs and what causes it. What is known, however, is that it is the second half of a woman’s menstrual cycle that is the problem because here less estrogen and more progesterone are produced. Unbalanced hormonal levels appear to be the biggest culprit of the post menstrual syndrome.
It also appears that prior illnesses, stresses or lifestyle issues in women can be considered triggers as well. Because of this imbalance of hormones, women face the problems they do with post menstrual syndrome, especially when it comes to fluid and water retention and also the swelling that it produces.
Stress, infection, and insomnia can also act as triggers. The same can also be said for environmental factors such as pollution and toxicity.
Are you Entering into Perimenopause?
Perimenopause: The years before Menopause
Perimenopause is the number of years before you officially enter into menopause. It’s characterized by dropping estrogen levels. Menopause is when you don’t menstruate for a period of one year.
The average age of menopause is 50 or 51, so most people begin showing symptoms of perimenopause sometime in their 40’s. Of course, there are also people who go through early menopause, sometimes as early as in their 20’s.
Many of the symptoms of perimenopause can replicate those of PMS. Some of them include the following:
- Breast tenderness
- Lower sex drive
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
In particular, the mood swings of perimenopause can make it feel like you have PMS after your period.
If you’re in your late 30’s or older and feel like you have PMS even after your period is done, check in with your doctor. It may be that you’re entering into perimenopause. There are a number of treatment options if your symptoms are particularly severe, including Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Treatments And Remedies for PMS Symptoms After Period is Over
While there may be numerous ways to treat women with the postmenstrual disorder, not all of them deliver effective results. In fact, some women may even require multiple treatments to reduce the impact of the symptoms.
It is worth noting that these remedies are the same ones used during a woman’s menstrual cycle. However, this time the symptoms have intensified and that’s why the treatments have to be more intense as well.
Clinical Trials for Post Menstrual Syndrome
At the moment, there are clinical trials going on in Alabama and if or when they are published, they will be the first of their kind.
Right now, a multi-disciplinary plan is suggested for the treatment of postmenstrual syndrome. The trials are focused on the causes of post menstrual syndrome pain and its elimination in regards to abdominal, vaginal and back pain. Pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies are testing new treatments and the results will be published in a few years.
Let’s wait and see what comes of it!
Medicinal Remedies for Post Menstrual Disorder
There are a number of medical treatments you could consider. However, the best advice we can give you is to consult with your doctor for the best treatment for your specific situation.
- Period medications or over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol and Advil. OTC analgesics can also assist in lowering a number of pain sources during post menstrual syndrome/disorder.
- Prescription birth control and painkillers, anti-anxiety and anti-depressants medications.
- Seeking treatment from a psychiatrist or a psychologist is recommended since much of postmenstrual is caused by or causes a psychological response.
How to Manage Postmenstrual Syndrome
Healthy Lifestyles and Diet
There are a number of menstrual disorder home remedies that you could consider to help you out with fluctuating hormones. You can see some of the most common recommendations here.
- You have to reduce your intake of salt, caffeine, and nicotine between a few days before your period and two weeks after it.
- Healthy lifestyle options should be considered.
- Yoga can be very helpful in reducing both the physical and emotional symptoms of postmenstrual disorder in practicing exercises such as stretching, positioning as well as meditation.
- Exercising regularly can reduce both the pre and post menstrual syndrome effects. Exercise and stretching routines reduce menstrual and cramping pain.
- Hot baths reduces back pain and cramping and induces relaxation.
- Massage can also be helping in relieving both physical and emotional symptoms. Massaging is very relaxing for the body and can you relieve you of back pain and cramping, as well as relieve you of anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
- Sleep can prevent postmenstrual-disorder-associated issues. In order to push down the effects of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, cramping, intense fatigue and nausea, it is vital to get 8 hours of sleep.
Diet for Post-Menstrual Disorder
Here are some foods that are helpful in lowering pre and post menstrual disorder.
- Legumes and Beans: Soy beans and soy-based products are recommended. Black beans, lentils, chickpeas, and seeds are included as well. Beans are the source of phytoestrogens that can help balance the body’s hormones.
- Whole Grains: We mean brown grains and not the white ones. The reason for that is because these grains are glycemic index approved that do not convert into sugar. Other items include brown sugar, whole grain bread, and brown pasta.
- Fruits: Any fruit is alright for consumption as long as it does not include pesticides, fertilizers and is eaten at room temperature. Apples are especially helpful in getting rid of bloat.
- Vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and radicchio increase the rate at which estrogen is expelled from a woman’s body and also balance hormones.
- Omega Six Fatty Acids: Omega six fatty acids such as sesame seeds are useful in treating all postmenstrual disorder.
- Omega Three Fatty Acids And Fatty Oils: Nuts, seeds, fish and oils.
Are you Low on Iron after your Period?
There’s one article that suggests that iron might be to blame for postmenstrual syndrome. Your iron levels dip a little bit due to menstruation. This is particularly true if you’re vegan or vegetarian.
When your iron levels are low, less oxygen is able to be carried around your body. The result may be aches, fatigue, mental fogginess, etc.
Check in with your doctor about this. There’s a simple blood test that can be done to check if you need an iron supplement, or not. For best results, get it done when you have your worst PMS after period symptoms.
Post Menstrual Disorder: Have your Say!
Any questions or things you’d like to mention about post-menstrual syndrome, or post-PMS? Any good results from getting treatment? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
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