Some Period Nausea Is Normal, But Severe Symptoms Aren’t

Medically reviewed by Cordelia Nwankwo, MD

Feeling nauseated during the days leading up to your period is fairly normal. Just like cramping and mood swings, nausea can be classified as a symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and is most often due to hormone fluctuations and uterine cramping.

PMS nausea can begin anywhere from two weeks before the first day of your period and settles down about four days after your period starts. PMS symptoms, like nausea, body aches, and fatigue, have even been coined "period flu." But they should be a mild annoyance and not drastically interfere with daily life.

If period nausea is impacting your ability to work or sleep or if it's coupled with other symptoms like severe cramps, pelvic pain, fever, or vomiting, it may be due to a medical condition, like endometriosis, adenomyosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease.

This article will explain why PMS nausea happens, what's normal vs. severe, and treatment options for both.

Nausea Around Your Period: Why It Happens

Intense nausea around your period can happen for a combination of reasons.

Intense Cramping

Dysmenorrhea is a condition that causes severe uterine cramping around your period. One of the hallmark symptoms is nausea, along with severe pain in the abdomen, back, and legs, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Primary dysmenorrhea is a condition that starts during your first few periods and is recurring. It's caused by a chemical imbalance in the body.

Secondary dysmenorrhea may begin later in life and is a symptom of a disorder in the reproductive system and points to another medical condition, like endometriosis.

High Levels Of Prostaglandins

Prostaglandins act as hormones (chemical messengers) to help repair tissue and form blood clots. They are also key drivers of ovulation, menstruation, and contractions during labor.

Sometimes, your body can have excess prostaglandins, which can cause intense pain and other symptoms that can cause nausea, like dysmenorrhea or heavy bleeding (also known as menorrhagia).

Dramatic Dip In Hormones

Ovulation occurs when your body releases an egg from an ovary. If it's not fertilized by sperm within 24 hours, it is discarded, and the body prepares for menstruation by going into the luteal phase (two weeks before your period).

Primary hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, dip quickly during the luteal phase. Researchers think this dramatic fall in hormones is responsible for PMS symptoms like nausea.

PMS Nausea vs. Severe Nausea From Other Conditions

Paying close attention to the timing of your nausea and other intense symptoms is key to differentiating PMS nausea from more severe conditions. Take note of your mental health, pain levels, energy, and the amount you're bleeding during your period. If you're feeling faint or losing consciousness, seek medical care right away.

A few underlying medical conditions that can cause intense nausea around your cycle include:

• New birth control

• Early pregnancy
  

• Adenomyosis (the lining of the uterus grows into its muscular wall)

• Uterine fibroids (benign growths)
  

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PPMD) (mental symptoms and more intense physical symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle)
  

• Dysmenorrhea

• Endometriosis (tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus)

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (inflammatory infection that affects the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes)

• Vasovagal syncope (fainting due to a sudden drop in blood pressure)

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (a hormonal disorder of the ovaries)

• Gastrointestinal conditions
  

Early Pregnancy Nausea

Early pregnancy and PMS symptoms have a lot of overlap, like tender breasts, fatigue, and nausea. But there are a few key differences. Some pregnant people experience morning sickness as early as the fourth week of pregnancy (counting from the start of the previous menstrual period), but it typically starts around week six and peaks around week nine. So take note: Is your period late?

A pregnant person may also experience light spotting, which is light pink or red blood but not enough to fill a tampon or pad. Either way, a urine pregnancy test or blood test is needed to confirm pregnancy.

How to Relieve Period Nausea at Home

A few herbs have been shown to have a direct impact on PMS symptoms. Consider stocking up on the following teas to help settle your stomach:

• Ginger

• Peppermint

• Fennel

Fresh, cool air is also a great way to relieve nausea. You may also use a cool compress on your head or neck. Be sure to get lots of sleep, eat small, bland meals throughout the day, and stay hydrated.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), like yin yoga, breathing meditation, and acupressure, are also shown to relieve nausea.

You can also consider reaching for antinausea medication or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen).

Period Nausea Not Letting Up: How a Provider Can Help

It's time to call a healthcare provider if your period nausea is consistent or you have other symptoms, like severe pelvic pain, fainting, vomiting, or abnormal discharge. They will help to diagnose and treat any underlying conditions accordingly.

A healthcare provider may ask you detailed questions about your lifestyle and condition, run blood work, perform a pelvic exam, or do an ultrasound. From there, you may have answers or need more conclusive procedures, like a biopsy (taking a sample of tissue for examination in the lab by a pathologist).

Oral contraceptives may be recommended as a treatment to regulate your hormones. Be sure to find a healthcare provider you trust and speak up about all of your symptoms. They are real and valid.

What to Eat With Period Nausea

A diet low in foods that stimulate estrogen production or estrogen-containing foods (like dairy) can help prevent pain-related PMS symptoms. Reducing the amount of fat and animal products you consume can have an impact on how thick your uterine lining becomes.

As a result, a thinner uterine lining reduces the number of prostaglandins (pain-causing lipids) released during menstruation.

Research also shows that anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds can help relieve painful cramps due to their high levels of antioxidants.

Foods with low odor and high protein, like tofu and chicken, are also recommended to help reduce nausea. Fiber can be helpful to pass excess hormones, so reach for applesauce or prunes.

Summary

Some nausea before and during your period is considered a normal PMS symptom. If your nausea is coupled with heavy bleeding, severe cramps, fainting, abnormal discharge, or vomiting, there may be underlying conditions at play, like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Nausea can be a sign of early pregnancy as well but can only be confirmed through a blood or urine test. Reach out to a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis. There are many medications and alternative remedies for nausea and painful periods.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.