Top 5 Doctor-Approved PMS Cures

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If you’ve ever had a period, you know they can be somewhat unpleasant…okay, really unpleasant in some cases. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make your period a bit more bearable. From sleep hygiene to medications to exercise, I’m going to walk you through the top five tips I, as a board-certified ObGyn, recommend for people who want to feel a bit better during this phase of their menstrual cycle.

Watch This Next:

Resources:

Exercise for PMS:
Exercise & Menstrual Pain:
Exercise & the HPO Axis:
Exercise & Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines:
Menstrual Cycle & Sleep
Melatonin & PMDD:
Vitex Agnus:
Chamomile Extract
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** The information in this video is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. **

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[randischneider]

I actually got a notification for this upload

[christines.]

Hey MDJ, I know that most of your viewers are probably in the 20-35 age range but if you could do a video on perimenopause and menopause those of us in the umm...older category would love a video. I feel like most of the videos that I see on this(very significant) phase of our lives are 99% woo and as someone dealing with hot flashes in the summer heat some science based advice would be welcome

[michelem]

Resolving mild nutritional deficiencies (iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D) really helped me a lot. Also increasing my hydration before my period (as was mentioned).

[vlmellody]

I was so grateful when my uterus prolapsed and I had it removed. It finally put me in full menopause, and it started a wonderful phase in my life without cramps, ridiculously heavy flow, or migraines.

[WorthyMissJ]

I had never had any PMS symptoms until early 2018. Then, I started having HORRENDOUS cramps. These were to the point that I would have to be given opiates for the pain and I was even hospitalized at one point and placed on a bolus of some intravenous pain meds. After nearly 18 months of this, I finally found a obgyn that actually ran tests to figure out what was happening. My periods have always been irregular so, I never really noticed the slow down of bleeding or passing of clots. After a pelvic mri, it was discovered that my uterus was swollen to nearly triple normal size for a woman of my age wh wasn't pregnant and it was filled with a solid looking mass. A hysterectomy was scheduled for November 11, 2019 and went very smoothly. My surgeon and obgyn both came to see me in my recovery room to explain what was discovered. First, I had several small polyps that looked like scar tissue which they said could happen with miscarriages (I've had many over the years😢). Secondly, my uterine "mass" was clotted blood that had entirely filled my uterus. The cramping that I felt was my body trying to have a normal period but only adding another layer to the huge blood clot, stretching my uterus further and further with every month that passed. Since I wasn't pregnant, my uterus wasn't receiving the hormones that make it able to stretch the way it would for a baby. The surgeon told me that he cut my uterus open to take a look and it was like cutting into partially decomposed liver. He biopsied the contents, the uterine lining, and the full tissue of my uterus and closed me up after removing it. I don't recall how much it weighed but I know that I was able to fit into jeans 4 sizes smaller than before the hysterectomy! The uterine tissue turned up some cancerous cells and the contents were just decomposing red blood cells, etc. (nothing to worry about). I tell you what, though... If those cramps are part of what other women go through as part of PMS, I'm glad I never had to deal with it at all!

[sentientsquid]

Hi MDJ, can you do a video on PMDD? It can be hard to know where the line between PMS and PMDD is, and it can be a really harrowing condition that people don’t talk about a lot

[lolophone]

7:45 You actually CAN take heat anywhere. They make portable heat wraps that are activated by oxygen (like hand warmers). It sticks to your body. Game changer for me with cramps. I like the thermacare brand.

[JustAdriana]

Hi! First of all, thank you for making this content available for everyone!

I would like to suggest your editor to please consider moving the text bits like definitions or quoted texts a little bit farther away from the bottom side of the video, since it usually gets hidden by subtitles.

I know it doesn't affect a big percentage of your viewers, but it would mean the world for us who aren't native English speakers or don't have good hearing.
Big thank you for all you do. Lots of love.

[jenniferbates]

What helped me with my period is taking care of my ADHD because 40% of women with ADHD also have PMDD, but it's gets misdiagnosed as Bi Polar 2, very frequently.

I have both, ADHD and PMDD. So I started going to therapy and take medication, and I have a period app as well. This helps me really understand my body so much more now.

[slidewithme]

I'm in my late 30s, and I've had the kind of bleeding and cramps that warrant "talking to your healthcare provider" since I was a teenager. Despite doing so on numberous occasions, I've never recieved any sort of help or options. I was recently diagnosed with a submucosal fibroid and am scheduled to have it removed... and I'm hoping, really hard, that doing so helps at least some of the symptoms I'm having. I doubt that fibroid has been there long enough to explain all the pain I went through as a teenager, but maybe now it'll help some. My family has a history of early onset menopause, and I have to say... that's a whole other barrel of monkeys to deal with, but DIFFERENT is fine with me at this point. I'm just really, really tired of being bed ridden the first two days of my period every month. I have a life to live. :/

[glcol]

If you have truly miserable periods, maybe read up on bicornuate uterus. Nobody ever mentioned this to me until after menopause, and there's no doubt that was what caused many of my symptoms. My mom mentioned once she had a "horn-shaped" uterus, had 6 successful pregnancies and and 3 miscarriages' so doesn't always cause a problem with fertility.

[LMJ-lyug]

The only thing that helped my periods was laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis excision, and diet change. Surgery, and having a diagnosis changed my life! Surgery was very painful, but so worth it. What's sad is how long it took for a doctor to listen to me about my pain, and actually take it seriously. Blew my mind that I could have periods that weren't debilitating.

[sunseeraleigh]

If my period started at school, I would have to leave and I would miss 2 days of school. I would be curled up in a fetal position and cry. I took Motrin and other meds that were made for cramps, other Anti-Inflammatories, nothing worked. My periods were irregular and they made me sick. I went through at least two to three packs of pads during my period and it didn't matter how absorbent they were, I would still have leaks. I had to wear overnights at school. It impacted my life big time. It got worse as I got older. At 48 or 49 (I am 53 now) I had an endometrial ablation. I have had no problems with the procedure and no bleeding or cramps.

[mollysandera]

I don't often have period cramps/pain, but when i do, i mix hot water/tea with cinnamon powder. My grandma told me about this. So far, every time i drank it, it has been effective in like 10-30 minutes after consumption, without fail. This might be worth a shot for some people, especially when you can't use heat packs i guess. Unless you have issues with powders

[ButterflyMasking]

Can you do a video on why some periods are irregular, or how being overweight affects your period, and other reasons besides pregnancy that you might miss your period?

[sheimi]

Just in time for my day three! Hang in there, fellow ladies, gals and all period pals ❤❤❤

[istrangestudiosent.]

I ended up in the ER the last time I had a period. I was passing out and having severe cramps. The doc said I had Dysmenorrhea and because I was anemic the blood loss was taking a toll on my body. I was also slightly dehydrated. So they told me to go to my Gynecologist and talk about birth control or a uterine ablation. I have 2 kids so I had my tubes tied so I didnt know theyd still give you BC. My periods always look like the scene from a slasher movie and the pain and utter exhaust have me in bed through my whole period. The weird thing is tho I always get super tired. To the point of barely being able to keep my eyes open every single time I have a period. Im going to the doctor next week and hopefully something can be done about this. I can't live like this.

[CJ_]

Literally just started today and the cramps and headaches have been the worst I've had in the last few years. Thanks for the perfectly timed video ❤

[midoriya-shonen]

My mom used to have a TENS unit for her back pain and it helped a lot. I'd recommend trying it if you can! It's non-invasive so nothing scary

[ThXinro]

I'm really surprised you didn't mention hormonal birth control. I had horrible, painful, heavy periods for most of my adolescence and as soon as I got on the pill, they immediately improved. Birth control isn't just for birth control, it's useful for so much more!