The One PMS Symptom That May Be Exacerbating The Rest Of Them

What if we told you that taking care of just one PMS symptom could potentially ease all of the rest? It may sound too good to be true, but as OB/GYN Anna Cabeca, D.O., tells us: There's one oft-ignored side effect of periods that, when addressed, can "really help improve PMS." 

During the phase that follows ovulation and precedes the period (called the luteal phase), many women have reported having sleep troubles1, from insomnia to frequently waking to nightmares. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "This is especially common in women who have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe type of premenstrual syndrome." 

While sleep quality may improve at the onset of the period, that's when other more common period symptoms may strike, such as bloat, weight gain, and brain fog—all of which might just be exacerbated by that lack of sleep, Cabeca explains.