Studies indicate that almost 80% women suffer the effects of menstrual discomforts. The world over women experience some typical symptoms of menstrual period flow. But we first need to know the mechanics behind the activity to understand why these symptoms appear and what makes them such a problem.

Every month a womans ovaries release one egg into her uterus. This egg stays there, waiting to be fertilized, and after a few days, is discharged from the uterus along with its tissue lining. This was the lining that had been prepared by nature to create a soft, warm cocoon for the fetus that would have been conceived had the egg got fertilised. This is natures own baby basket and its warm lining. But when the egg does not get fertilized, and is expelled from the body with a bloody vaginal discharge, this is called the menstrual flow. This process is called menstruation. As this blood, tissue and the egg flow out from the vagina, they cause some physical discomfort but most of the pain associated with the menstrual flow is largely hormones related.

The pain or menstrual cramps usually come because during the first five days of this phase, the uterus is contracting in spasms, in order to shed the lining. The pain is a much milder form of what she will experience during childbirth; also a contractions- led activity. The muscle contractions here are cause by chemical called prostaglandins. This hormone causes the muscles of the uterus to contract for a longer period of time, sometimes depriving it of oxygen. This is what causes menstrual cramps. Then after 14 days, the hormonal level changes to prepare for the release of the next egg. The hormone levels of both estrogen and progesterone keep rising till about 4 days before the next period, and then, if fertilization has not taken place, they fall. This sudden change causes more irritation and emotional imbalance in a woman. People refer this discomfort to, when they talk about that time of the month.

Around the time ovulation happens there is a pain in the back, abdomen or even dizziness. Just about a week before the actual flow starts, the woman may experience bloating. This is water retention on legs and around the middle, sometimes even the face. The other symptoms are breast tenderness, decreased activity levels and lack of sleep. Some women also experience changes in appetite while some others break out in acne. There sometimes seems to be a slight loss of coordination, so many women experience trouble in driving in this PMS state.

A woman approaching this time usually experiences attacks of anxiety and social withdrawal. The most common of all symptoms, is irritability or moodiness, depression and angry outbursts. Nausea, headache, gas in the abdomen, indigestion and sometimes even diarrhea are common symptoms and pains of this cycle. If these pains get more severe than normal, they are taken to be a disorder called dysmenorrhea. The bad news is that menstrual pain and discomfort does not spare any woman who is in the fertile age bracket, usually between 12 and 51. Class, culture, body type, even race make no difference.