Written by
Sima
As women, our bodies go through many hormonal fluctuations throughout the month as our menstrual cycle progresses. With each phase comes different symptoms, which can sometimes feel like a physical and emotional rollercoaster. Some of the most common complaints occur at the end of the luteal stage when many women experience PMS symptoms. PMS or premenstrual syndrome occurs during the time leading up to your period and can cause breast tenderness, irritability or mood changes, fatigue, cramps, headaches, and more. Typically, these symptoms resolve with menstruation, but what happens when you experience PMS symptoms but no period? In this article, we’ll discuss common reasons you may have PMS but no period and provide practical tips to help you feel your best.
Before we proceed with explanations, we wanted to clarify why having PMS symptoms is not the same as being diagnosed with PMS. As we’ve already mentioned, PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome. This syndrome is diagnosed when you experience physical and mental symptoms in the 5 days preceding your period that significantly interfere with your daily life. These symptoms resolve once your period has started.
It is normal and expected to experience mild symptoms in the second half of your menstrual cycle, and this is not considered PMS. Previously, this normal experience was called molimina, although this term is archaic now. Currently, all symptoms are called PMS symptoms, which adds confusion to the topic.
If you’re experiencing PMS symptoms but still haven’t started to menstruate, you’re probably wondering, “Why am I having period symptoms but no period?” While there can be many reasons, one of the most common is hormonal fluctuations. Throughout your menstrual cycle, your hormone levels are constantly rising and falling, depending on the stage. During the late luteal phase, your sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, levels drop, which can cause a range of symptoms that are generally associated with PMS. But why do these fluctuations happen?
Your ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone at different times in your cycle to prepare your body for pregnancy. During the first half, also called the follicular phase, your estrogen levels are higher as your follicles work on maturing an egg, and the uterine wall thickens. Once the egg is released, a process called ovulation, progesterone levels spike, preparing the uterus to house the fertilized egg. If implantation and pregnancy don’t occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, causing the uterus to shed its lining, resulting in your period. PMS symptoms happen at the time when both your progesterone and estrogen levels decrease and prostaglandins, that are hormone like chemicals, increase, which is why it’s common to experience numerous symptoms. These signs are usually a precursor to menstruation, but sometimes you can get period symptoms but no period.
If you’re wondering, “What happens when I feel like I have my period and no blood is present?” you’re not alone. There are many possible causes of PMS symptoms that don’t result in menstruation. We’ll explore some of the most common below.
During early pregnancy, women can experience symptoms similar to PMS, including mild cramping, mood swings, fatigue, bloating, and breast tenderness. It can be easy to dismiss these signs as a part of your normal menstrual cycle. Fortunately, identifying pregnancy is generally easy after a missed period by taking a pregnancy test.
Medications like certain types of hormonal birth control, antipsychotics and antidepressants, and some thyroid medicines can affect your menstrual cycle. If you suspect this is the case, you can talk to your doctor and address your concerns.
While you may not think of the thyroid when considering hormonal conditions, this butterfly-shaped gland plays a role in menstrual cycle regulation. When you have either too little (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism) thyroid hormone, you may experience a range of symptoms like irritability, constipation, mood swings, weight loss or gain, anxiety, and tiredness. Thyroid conditions can also cause your period to stop.
Your lifestyle can impact your menstrual cycle and overall health, which is why it’s important to prioritize self-care.
High stress levels can impact your hormonal balance and disrupt your menstrual cycle, which could cause you to miss your period. The stress hormone cortisol can inhibit estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for menstruation and ovulation. Stress can also cause digestive upset and fatigue similar to PMS.
Being overweight or underweight can also impact your menstrual cycle, leading to irregular ovulation and periods. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can help ensure your body functions properly.
Sleep is one of the most powerful tools your body has for staying healthy. Poor sleeping habits can put you at a higher risk for developing menstrual disorders. It can also cause symptoms like irritability, fatigue, weight changes, and headaches, which could be confused with PMS.
If you’re experiencing persistent or severe symptoms that impact your daily life, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They can work with you to identify the issue and create a treatment plan.
While it is possible for your cycle to be affected by medications or simply being pregnant, we need to metion one more cause. There is a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS affects between 6 to 13% of women. This hormonal condition can cause irregular periods and disrupt ovulation. It has its own set of symptoms, that are different from PMS. This includes having excess hair on your face, hair thinning on your head, acne, dark patches on your neck or under your breasts, weight gain around abdomen among others.
Hormona is the revolutionary hormone tracker that makes it easy to monitor your hormone levels from home. The award-winning app offers various features to help you track your menstrual cycle so you can better understand your hormone health. With Hormona, you have access to science-backed tools and insights so you can take charge of your health and navigate hormonal changes with confidence.
Now that you know the answer to the question, “Why do I have period symptoms but no period?” you’re probably wondering what steps you can take to manage PMS symptoms.
Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals gives your body the nutritional support it needs to function properly. Fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains are essential for nurturing your body.
Regular exercise aids in hormone regulation and keeps your bones and muscles healthy. Walking, running, hiking, swimming, and biking are excellent options, or you can follow an at-home exercise program.
As we discussed, stress can wreak havoc on your body. Incorporating stress-reducing activities like meditation, spending time outside, limiting screen time, and participating in your favorite hobby can help you feel more relaxed.
Tracking your PMS symptoms is crucial for identifying patterns and helping find the right diagnosis. Inputting your symptoms daily into a hormone tracker like Hormona can provide comprehensive insights into your overall health.
If your PMS symptoms are caused by a hormonal condition, your doctor can prescribe medications to treat them. It’s important to let your doctor know of all of your symptoms so they can perform the right tests and make the correct diagnosis.
There’s no such thing as a ghost period, but it is possible to miss your period due to stress, reproductive conditions, lifestyle, and hormone imbalances.
Menstrual cycles can vary in length from 21 to 38 days, so it’s common for the start of your period to vary. A late period doesn’t necessarily mean pregnancy, but if it’s more than seven days after the expected start date, you can take a pregnancy test.
Signs that you may miss a period are similar to PMS and can include mild cramping, fatigue, and swelling.
Menstruation is bleeding, so it’s not possible to have one without the other. However, some women with a hormonal IUD can have an ovarian cycle with hormonal fluctuations and ovulation without bleeding, since the medication acts locally.
Some conditions that can be mistaken for PMS include pregnancy, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMD) and exacerbations of existing mental disoders. Hormonal birth control during the first three months after initiation can have side effects that are similar to PMS.
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Dr Singh is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice focuses on the myriad of sleep.
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