Does the problem of PMS automatically reduce with increasing age?

There are many questions related to women’s health on which it is very important to talk openly. Every month, women have to go through many physical and mental changes before periods, which is called pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS. Generally, there is a big misconception in the minds of people that as women grow older and mature, this problem automatically reduces or disappears. Many women assume that the PMS that plagues them in their teens or early 20s will subside on its own as they get older. But does medical science really confirm this? If you also have the same question in your mind, then this report is very special for you. According to health experts and recent medical research, this belief is not completely correct. In many cases, as we age, especially in our 30s and 40s, PMS symptoms may become more severe rather than less severe. Let us know in detail what effect this game of age and hormones has on women’s body.

When it comes to women’s hormonal health, the body’s cycles do not run straight like clockwork but rather have ups and downs. It is generally believed in the society that with increasing age the body becomes stable and the problems related to periods automatically start ending. However, gynecologists say this is far from the truth. Studies have shown that PMS symptoms can be more intense in women in their late 30s and early 40s than in their teens. The main reason for this is that as a woman’s age increases, the pattern of hormonal changes in her body also changes. The balance of estrogen and progesterone in the body begins to deteriorate, which has a direct impact on the woman’s mood, energy levels and physical health. Therefore, thinking that this problem will disappear automatically with increasing age may prove to be wrong.

With increasing age, responsibilities of life, career, family pressure and mental stress also increase significantly. Medical research shows that chronic stress increases the level of cortisol hormone in the body. This increased stress makes the brain and hormonal system more sensitive. When a woman’s body and brain become more sensitive to hormones, problems like mood swings, extreme fatigue, irritability, headaches and bloating that occur every month before the period become more deeply felt. Additionally, at the neurological level, brain receptors also begin to respond differently to hormonal fluctuations with age, which can sometimes make symptoms more painful than in older years.

There comes a period in the life of women which is called ‘Perimenopause’. This is the transition period that starts a few years before menopause i.e. the complete cessation of menstruation. In this condition, the production of hormones by the ovaries in the women’s body starts becoming irregular. Sometimes the level of estrogen increases very much and sometimes it suddenly falls very low. This rollercoaster ride of hormones causes PMS symptoms to become extremely aggressive. During this period, women may have to face not only general irritability but also problems like severe anxiety, insomnia, hot flushes and extreme fatigue. Experts also believe that during this period the ‘symptom window’ i.e. the period when symptoms appear in the body, also becomes longer. That is, whereas earlier the problem used to occur a few days before the period, now this range has increased to one to two weeks before.

Now the biggest question that arises is that if this problem increases with age, then how does one get rid of it? According to medical science, complete and permanent relief from PMS or its associated severe symptoms occurs only when a woman’s body completely enters the stage of ‘menopause’. When periods stop coming forever and the ovaries stop producing hormones, the problem of PMS automatically ends when the hormonal cycle stops. However, till then, women going through this phase need to pay special attention to their lifestyle and diet. A balanced diet, rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6, can control symptoms to a great extent. Apart from this, regular yoga practice, aerobic exercise and taking adequate sleep also proves helpful in keeping the brain calm. If the symptoms become unbearable, proper medical advice or therapy can be taken by consulting a good doctor so that this challenging phase can be easily passed.