This article will tell you how to understand your menstrual cycle. It answers questions including what PMS is, why you get PMS and what toxic shock syndrome is.

The cause of PMS

The cause of PMS is hormonal. Your body is responding to hormonal changes and in the ten days before your period comes your body is rapidly producing progesterone and oestrogen. These changes cause knock on effects such as bloating, mood changes, headaches, fatigue and breast tenderness. You don’t have to look as bad as you feel though when you have PMS, so why not check out the many great beauty and make-up products at Myshowcase.com to get ideas for how to scare about PMS blues by making yourself look fabulous. When you look great, you will be amazed at how quickly you can forget about how uncomfortable you may feel on the inside. Looking good also lifts the spirit and mood!

Relieving PMS

When you have PMS it is best to ensure that your body is hydrated so drinking plenty of water is a good idea. It is advisable to avoid alcohol and caffeine if you are suffering from PMS as these can lead to dehydration. Other steps you can take to reduce the symptoms of PMS include ensuring that you have a healthy, balanced diet that is especially rich in calcium, and vitamin D. calcium and Vitamin D have been proven to reduce the effects of PMS in some women. Fortified orange is a good source of vitamins, or why not take a multi-vitamin regularly?

Sometimes PMS symptoms can be so severe that medication is required. Low doses of antidepressants and beginning a course of birth control pills are known to alleviate the symptoms of severe PMS.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

When you have your period you need to safeguard your health by using things like tampons correctly. Incorrect tampon usage can lead to a rare but potentially life threatening condition known as toxic shock syndrome, or TSS. TSS is caused by a bacterial infection which can be sparked when your tampon is left in for too long. The symptoms of TSS are the sudden occurrence of fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle aches, chills, and rashes. Using a tampon correctly is something that will be explained fully on the packaging of the product. You should keep the packaging and be able to refer to it at all times you need to use the product, and you should follow the guidance on the packaging to the letter. Some products are designed to be left in for only four hours, whereas others can last for eight hours or longer. If your tampon is especially absorbent, you should remove it sooner rather than later as the more absorbent the tampon is the more bacteria will be bale to multiple within a short time. if you forget to take your tampon out, you should remove it as soon as possible and seek medical advice. If you experience the symptoms of TSS you should immediately go seek the advice of a doctor.