Signs Of Period Coming Soon: 13 Menstrual Symptoms Before Period Starts

Last updated on July 26th, 2018 at 06:27 pm

Signs of period coming soon and pregnancy may seem alike. However, they are different.

Period, which is the cyclical bleeding from the vagina, have some signs before it starts. According to Mayo Clinic, 75 percent of women will have had some menstrual period symptoms in their lifetime.

In some women, these symptoms may be severe, affecting daily activities and requiring hospital admission.

This article explains the 13 common period signs that predict your next period.

What are the symptoms and signs of period coming soon?

If you are expecting your period, these are some of the sign you may experience.

1.  Abdominal cramps

Abdomen cramps, which is experienced by a lot of women before their period starts, is a sign your period is coming soon. Most women will experience cramps 2 – 3 days before their period starts.

However, these cramps may continue into your period and get less severe as your period ends.

Though abdominal pain before menstruation may indicate your period will start soon, there are other causes of pre-period cramps. Pregnancy, ovulation, endometriosis and vaginal infections may mimic period like cramps

How to know if your period is coming or you’re pregnant?

If you’ve never had sex or had sexual intercourse with consistent use of a condom, it’s likely period is coming if you experience cramps days before period.

However, unprotected sexual activity weeks back can result in pregnancy-like cramps. Pregnancy cramps are very mild and due to implantation.

You can quickly confirm pregnancy by its early symptoms. Very common pregnancy symptoms are fatigue, body weakness, feeling like vomiting and light bleeding before your period.

Bonus Tip: You may be pregnant without knowing. Watch this 1-Minute-Video to Discover 16 Most common Pregnancy Signs

How to know if your period is coming or you’re ovulating?

Don’t think you are different. Some women may experience abdominal pain while ovulating. This usually occurs 2 weeks before period.

Then again, it’s possible ovulation will show up a week or days before your period. This usually occurs if you get stressed up or your hormones are unstable.

When ovulation occurs later than expected, you may also have abdominal cramps while expecting period.

Is it period or a vaginal infection?

If you persistently have low abdomen pain between periods, it may be due to vaginal infections or endometriosis.

Read more: 7 Causes of cramps before period

How can I ease cramps before my period?

• Have regular exercise
• Reduce the amount of sugar intake
• Take pain relief medications to help with your cramps

2.  Change of mood

Are you experiencing a change in your behavior before your period? Do you feel you’re getting very emotional before your period?

Having increased emotions before period is a sign your period is coming soon. Mood changes that occur after ovulation is a sign your period will start soon.

If you are persistently having mood changes throughout your menstrual cycle, then it may be due to other causes. You should inform your doctor.

Other causes of mood changes are

• Drug abuse
• Hormone imbalance
• Depression
• Epilepsy

3.  Acne on face

Do you notice increased acne breakout before periods? During the menstrual cycle and at puberty, hormone changes cause women to start having acne.

Acne occurs due to increased androgen in your body. These androgens will cause follicular glands to grow more with more sebum production.

If you are experienced acne before your period, your period may be starting in a few days.

What to do?

Acne can be embarrassing sometimes for women. However, these are some simple steps to get rid of acne.

• Don’t let your face oily. Clean and wash your face at least twice a day
• Use proven products to help remove your acne
• If it gets serious, you can let your doctor know about your symptoms

4.  Breast pain and swelling

Do you experience increased pain in your breast before your period starts? Do you notice your breasts are slightly larger before your period?

Before period, some women may experience breast pain and swelling. This is a sign of period coming soon. Some women may have a lump in their breast that disappears after period starts.

Changes in the breast before your period is due to the effect of hormones. Hormones — Estrogen and progesterone, will cause your ducts to enlarge and your glands to swell.

In women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, breast tenderness usually occurs 4 days before period (Or 10 days after ovulation).

What to do?

• Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can ease your breast pain
• If your breast pain is persistent, you should talk to your doctor

5.  Abdominal bloating, gas and pain

Do you feel your abdomen is swelling up just before period?

Abdomen bloating is swelling and tightening experienced by women which could occur for many reasons. If you are expecting your period, a hard, distended and tight abdomen may indicate your period will start soon.

Other causes of bloating are pregnancy, anorexia nervosa (severe weight loss), ovarian cyst and hormone imbalance.

What to do?

• Have regular exercise
• Reduce salt intake as this may worsen your fluid retention
• Reduce sugar intake
• Take more fiber diet like vegetables and fruits
• Drink plenty of water every day
• Avoid meals that contain beans and cabbage

6.  Headache

Are you having a headache days before your period starts? 

Headache before menstrual period occurs due to drop in your body’s estrogen level and may be severe sometimes. It usually occurs 1 – 3 days before your next period.

However, headache may indicate many other problems. If you are having headache throughout your menstrual cycle, then it not a period symptom. You should inform your doctor to determine the cause.

What can I do to ease my headache?

• Painkillers like ibuprofen and diclofenac could help reduce menstrual cramps and headache
• Estrogen supplements before and during period may help ameliorate symptoms
• Combined oral contraceptive pills
• Notify your doctor if it gets worse

7.  Sleepless nights before period

Are you experience sleepless night (insomnia) before your period starts? Then your period may just be close by.

Sleepless night 1 – 3 days before your expected period is a sign of period coming. Insomnia occurs due to reduced estrogen and progesterone hormones before period.

What to do?

• Reduce stress
• Exercise regularly
• Chart your sleeping patterns
• Inform your doctor about your symptoms

Other symptoms of period coming are 

8.  Fatigue

9.  Food cravings

10.  Hot flashes

11.  Poor concentration before period

12.  Confusion

13.  Back pain before period

FAQs about menstrual period symptoms and signs

These are some commonly asked questions that may concern you.

1.  What are signs of period coming discharge?

Vaginal discharge before period is thick white discharge.

During your menstrual cycle, your vaginal discharge may change from time to time. At the beginning of your cycle, after menstruation ends, vaginal discharge is thick white. Some women may experience vaginal dryness just after period ends.

At the middle of your cycle or just before ovulation occurs, vaginal discharge becomes stretchy and egg white. After ovulation occurs and before your period, vaginal discharge is thick white again.

Changes in vaginal discharge are due to hormone changes during menstrual cycles. Thick white discharge is a sign your period is coming. It occurs due to low levels of progesterone and estrogen.

2.  What are the signs your period is coming tomorrow (next day)?

• Headache
• Sleepless night
• Pelvic pain
• Acne
• Changes in appetite
• Mood change
• Confusion and lack of concentration
• Abdominal bloating
• Breast pain
• Breast swelling

3.  Signs of period coming but no period

If you experience signs of period coming but no period, then it may be due to pregnancy.

Pregnancy may cause you to have signs of period —Headache and cramps, but no period coming.

If pregnant, you may experience brown spotting before period or sometimes an unusual early light period.

Are you getting tired easily? Do you feel like vomiting? Are you craving for a specific kind of diet? Then it’s possible you may be pregnant.

Other causes of signs of period coming but no period are stress, weight loss, contraceptive pills, obesity, weight loss, ovarian cyst and polycystic ovarian disease.

4.  What causes menstrual period to come out?

Period occurs due to cyclical change of your hormones during your menstrual cycle.

What is the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is the number of days between 2 periods. For example, if your last menstrual period started on the 27th of April and your next period starts on the 26th of May, then you have a 30-day menstrual cycle.

Some women may have an erratic menstrual cycle, short menstrual cycle or long menstrual cycle.

What causes period to come out?

At birth and during puberty, the ovaries contain a fixed number of follicles that are released in each cycle. Weeks before you are born, your body stops producing follicle that develops to release an egg.

It is estimated that throughout the lifetime of women, about 500 eggs are released from the ovaries. These release of the egg is called ovulation.

Before ovulation occurs, your body increases the secretion of estrogen. This hormone works to help grow the endometrium covering the inner part of the uterus.

If you get pregnant, you will have no period because the endometrium helps provide nutrition for your baby.

However, if you’re not pregnant, the endometrium breaks down coming out from your vagina as period.

Now it’s your turn. Do you have a headache or pains before your period starts? Are your menstrual period symptoms affecting your daily activities?