Grrl to Grrl
(Advice)

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the question:
I'm a 26 year female. Every since I was sixteen I knew when my period was about to come, even if I didn't look at my calendar. How? Not only will I break out in pimples but my breast will swell up and hurt, as well as other small symptoms like cravings and such. Well, for the last past year my breast doesn't swell any more and I rarely break out. And when I do get pimples I get them on my groin area or a little lower in the private are, which go away by the time my period is on or off like my normal pimples use to.. My question, do pms symptoms (if that's what you call it) change as we women get older and is it normal to get pimples in that area.

sheila’s advice
Hi,

You really should talk to a gyno about your questions as we cannot answer anything medical so to speak.

I will share with you my own story though. Up until I was 35 my periods where predictable. I knew exactly when I was going to get them and even to the day. Several months back I gained 10 pounds in one month, had my period twice that same month, was crankier than normal and thought I had something wrong with me. I went to the gyno, had her do blood tests galore and it tuned out I was healthy as can be. It just seems that as we age our hormones change and there is little we can do about that. My boobs stopped swelling in my late twenties. I haven't had that PMS symptom for years now. As for pimples, they can show up anywhere. I broke out so much this month more than I have ever done before. I don't know if there is a 'normal' place to get pimples. Next time you break out you should just visit your gyno and have him/her make sure they are pimples and not something else. Another PMS symptom I have lately; headaches. I started to write down when I get headaches each month and sure enough, they occur a few days before I get my period. I can say that my symptoms have definitely changed as I've aged and they keep on changing. Good luck and you are not alone in this.

~Sheila

trixie’s advice
Ditto, ditto. I went from about 5-6 periods a year with no PMS, to 2-3 per month with major PMS, and now I'm kind of at none with weird PMS. :) Thank goodness the breast swelling stopped almost completely for me in my twenties. That was a pain!

As for the pimples - ask your doc, but I've had them in some very bizarre and annoying places, too!

~Trixie

read what others have had to say:

Name:	Lisa
Date:	Tue Jul 15 12:29:01 2003
Wrote... Hi, I read some articles about skipping my placebo pills in my pill pack (ortho-tri cyclen). I have been on these for about 5 years. So I decided to try this method so I wouldn't have a period. But now I'm scared I may be pregnant and not know it. I had unprotected sex a couple weeks ago and my breasts are extremely swollen and tender. I was wondering if this may be happening because I changed my pill cycle. 152.163.252.104 submitter's IP address

Name:
Date:	Thu May 15 08:53:05 2003
Wrote... 38.144.36.13 submitter's IP address

Name:	DIVA
Date:	Mon May 5 00:42:15 2003
Wrote... Big shout here: I hope you have a good Gynecologist, and that you go yearly for a pelvic exam, breast exam ( in addition to your monthly self breast exam right after your period) and PAP test. Our yearly Gynecologist exams save MANY lives through early precancerous and cancer detection, healthy as you appear to be from your letter. Yes, the acne from hormonal changes in teenagers usually diminishes in one's 20s, or else every woman's best beauty product for life would be Clearasil. :) As for breast changes, your breast tissue size is usually established by your early 20's and won't change much unless you have a weight change or pregnancy. Most women do have less PMS as they age, although although some women are prone to PMS discomfort for their entire reproductive lives, from their first period to menopause. I bet you are probably eating healthier, working daily, and hopefully have a good exercise plan going more than you did a few years ago, too. All of these things can help relieve PMS and your awareness of it. You do not say if you have had a child or if you take the Pill, but both of these often impact PMS symptoms such as breakouts, cramps, bloating, and breast changes a great deal for the better. Some virgin teens are put on low dose birth control pills ( which contain hormones) to help their terrible PMS symptoms, in fact. Count your blessings and please have yearly PAP tests ( which detect cervical cancer), a pelvic exam ( which can help the doctor feel the size and position of your internal reproductive organs as well as check for any problems), a breast exam and teaching you to do your own monthly self breast exam. He or she can also advise you on birth control if desired, answer all the questions you have about how your female plumbing works, and be a great support person for you in general. There are plenty of gynecologists who are female if you had rather see a woman doc. 68.113.204.82 submitter's IP address

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