Hormonal fluctuations throughout our cycles can bring about a bunch of symptoms that many of us experience regularly. While we can often manage these on our own, it’s important to know when to keep an eye on them and when it’s time to get some medical advice.

• Mood Swings: Hormonal shifts around your period can really mess with your mood. This is pretty common, but pay attention if your mood swings are disrupting your daily routine or straining your relationships. If these mood changes persist or if you’re having thoughts of self-harm or feeling hopeless, it’s time to talk to a doctor.
  
  
• Headaches: Lots of people get headaches around their period due to hormonal changes. These can range from mild annoyances to severe migraines. If your headaches are really painful, frequent, come with symptoms like seeing bright lights, or don’t go away with basic painkillers, see a doctor.
  
  
• Bloating: Feeling bloated in your abdomen is very common around your period. Usually, it’s nothing serious, but if it persists or gets really bad, check in with a doctor to make sure it’s not something like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or a hormonal imbalance.
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• ‍Skin Breakouts: Hormonal changes can lead to breakouts, and many of us deal with this. However, if your breakouts are severe, don’t go away, or cause significant distress, talk to a doctor—especially if you’re dealing with large, painful cysts.

In a nutshell:

• Mood Swings: Get help if mood swings are constant, disrupt your daily life, or if you’re having thoughts of self-harm or feeling worthless.
  
  
• Headaches: See a doctor if headaches are severe, frequent, come with auras (bright lights), or don’t respond to pain relief.
  
  
• Bloating: Talk to a doctor if bloating is persistent or severe, especially if you have pain, changes in bowel habits, or weight loss.‍
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• Skin Breakouts: Seek advice if breakouts don’t get better with over-the-counter treatments or if they’re causing you a lot of stress.

If you suffer from hormonal imbalances related to your symptoms, you may consider the following tips to help alleviate your symptoms:

• Healthy Diet: Try to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your meals to keep your body in balance. For example, you could have chicken breast, steamed fish, tofu, and stir-fried vegetables. Eating a balanced diet gives your body the nutrients it needs to make and regulate hormones properly. It also helps keep your blood sugar levels stable, preventing stress hormone spikes and making you feel better day-to-day.
  
  
• Regular Exercise: Engage in physical activities that you enjoy, like brisk walking around the neighbourhood, swimming, or spinning. Regular exercise boosts your mood and reduces period symptoms like cramps and bloating. It helps you maintain a healthy weight, which keeps your hormones balanced. Staying active also improves how your body handles insulin, which keeps your blood sugar levels stable and your hormones balanced.
  
  
• Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to help regulate your hormones and reduce stress. Establish a calming bedtime routine, like reading a book, taking a warm bath, or listening to soothing music. If lights affect your sleep, consider using blackout curtains. Keep your bedroom cool and quiet to improve sleep quality. Good sleep helps balance stress hormones like cortisol, reducing headaches, mood swings, and fatigue related to hormonal fluctuations.
  
  
• Stress Management: Find stress-relief practices that work for you, such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. For instance, start your morning with a 10-minute guided meditation to set a peaceful tone for the day. Managing stress effectively helps prevent hormonal imbalances that can arise from chronic stress.

Keep an eye on your symptoms to see if they are frequent and / or severe. You can track these symptoms with the Taylor app. If your symptoms worsen or significantly impact your life, don’t wait to see a doctor.

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