What are the most common PMS symptoms?
The most common PMS symptoms are irritability, mood swings, feeling sad or teary, anxiety, tiredness, trouble sleeping, food cravings, bloating, tender breasts, headaches, acne and cramps. They usually start 5 to 10 days before your period and ease within a few days of bleeding. Most people get a few of these, not all of them.
Emotional and mental PMS symptoms
- Irritability, anger, a shorter fuse
- Mood swings: fine one minute, upset the next
- Feeling sad, low or teary, crying more easily
- Anxiety, tension, feeling on edge
- Feeling overwhelmed or less able to cope
- Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, brain fog
- Wanting to be alone, or needing more reassurance
- Lower interest in sex, or sometimes higher
Physical PMS symptoms
| Symptom | What's going on |
|---|---|
| Bloating, puffiness | Hormone shifts make your body hold more water |
| Sore or swollen breasts | Progesterone and estrogen act on breast tissue |
| Tiredness | Falling hormones and lighter sleep |
| Food cravings, bigger appetite | Energy needs rise slightly; serotonin dips |
| Headaches or migraines | Linked with the drop in estrogen |
| Spots and breakouts | Relative rise in androgen effects on skin |
| Cramps, back ache | Prostaglandins start rising before bleeding |
| Constipation or diarrhea | Hormones and prostaglandins affect the gut |
| Sleep problems | Higher body temperature and mood changes |
| Clumsiness, sensitivity to noise or light | Less common but reported |
When PMS symptoms start and stop
For a symptom to count as PMS, it needs to follow a pattern: it appears in the days before your period, eases within about four days after bleeding starts, and stays away until after ovulation. Symptoms that last all month are probably something else. See when does PMS start and how long PMS lasts.
How to find your own PMS pattern
Everyone's mix is different. One person's PMS is mostly bloating and cravings; another's is three days of anxiety. Tracking two or three cycles is the best way to see yours: note your mood and the main symptoms each day, then look at which days cluster before your period. Our PMS self-check and printable PMS symptom diary help.
In Lulu you log symptoms with one tap on a bunny drawing, and a doctor-ready PMS chart builds itself from your check-ins.
When PMS might be PMDD
If emotional symptoms are severe, such as hopelessness, intense anger, panic or feeling out of control, and they arrive every cycle then lift after your period, it may be PMDD, which affects about 3 to 8% of people who menstruate.
See a doctor if PMS symptoms disrupt work, school or relationships, if symptoms don't go away after your period, or if you feel hopeless. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call your local emergency number now, or in the US call or text 988. In the UK, Samaritans are on 116 123.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of PMS?
For many people it's irritability, tiredness, breast tenderness or cravings about a week before their period. Your own first sign is easiest to spot by tracking.
Can PMS cause nausea?
Some people feel queasy before their period. See PMS nausea.
Can PMS symptoms change with age?
Yes. They often get stronger in your late 30s and 40s. See PMS getting worse.
Can PMS cause insomnia?
Yes, sleep is often lighter before your period. See PMS insomnia.
Sources
- Office on Women's Health: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- NHS: PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
- ACOG: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) FAQ
- Cleveland Clinic: PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
What is PMS?What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome is the mix of mood and body symptoms in the days before your period. What causes it, how common it is, and what helps.
PMS test: do my symptoms follow my cycle?Free PMS test: rate 11 common premenstrual symptoms and see whether yours look like mild PMS, typical PMS or something worth raising with a doctor.PMS mood swings: why they happen and what actually helpsTeary, snappy or anxious before your period? Why PMS mood swings happen in the luteal phase, what helps, and when it might be PMDD instead.Period bloating: why it happens and how to ease itPeriod bloating explained: why your tummy swells before and during your period, how long it lasts, and simple, evidence-based ways to feel lighter.When does PMS start?When does PMS start? Usually 5 to 10 days before your period, after ovulation. How to work out your start day and spot your first warning signs.
PMDD: premenstrual dysphoric disorder, explained kindlyPMDD is a severe, cyclical mood condition tied to your period. What it is, why it happens, how it's diagnosed, what treatment helps, and where to get support.