PMSing or Attention seeking??

Unlike what some might believe, PMS is not a myth.

In fact, If you do a little Math you’ll find out that it touches a quarter of the world’s population at some time in their life. That’s over one billion girl/woman!!

But what is PMS, really? Is it severe enough to halt and disturb a woman’s life and performance? Well, here is a simple ID of PMS:

Name: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Ages of sufferers: between 12 and 50 years of age
Places it affects: The entire body and mind
Time of trigger: After ovulation and before menstrual cycle begins
Symptoms: bloating, headaches, mood swings, cravings for certain types of food…
Consequences: Tiredness, irritability…well, not the best feeling you can have!!               

This combination of physical and emotional symptoms that a substantial number of women get is due to a hormonal change when estrogen and progesterone levels begin falling dramatically if one is not pregnant.

So it is good, right? That is, if you are not ready to go into motherhood yet!

Sadly, people around you are not aware that you are going through that phase, and hence may not be understanding enough!

You could be accused of being lazy, or simply seeking attention, which definitely is not the case.

So can we say that women should bear their discomfort quietly and not remedy to it?

Not in the 21st century, you don’t!!

Here are some tips you can try to alleviate the pain and make this period as smooth as possible:

1. Yes, get some pain killers (Ibuprofen, Aspirin, simple over-the-counter medicine that can lessen headaches, cramps…). No need to be a masochist at this point, it is ‘dépassé’ and so 19th century!!
2. Homeopathy can help too (no need to burn sage yet!!) with a nice warm herbal brew prepared by your mom/partner. Peppermint, Fennel and aniseed are very efficient, plus the mere aroma of those teas can have a relaxing effect on the mind.
3. Adopt a healthy lifestyle throughout the month (eat healthy food, exercise regularly, meditate, get enough sleep…) for this will help lessen the pain and discomfort when PMS hits.
4. Talk to friends you feel comfortable with. There is no shame in letting people know you are at that critical time of the month as they can understand and sympathize with you.

Remember, PMS is NOT a disease, neither a situation you need to shun away from but if you feel taking a day off can help, why not?! The world will understand.

Dr. Usha Kiran FRCOG

Consultant OBGY

Prime Hospital

Whatsapp no +91 90043 38835

Why do i want to blog?

People often ask me why wanted to blog when there  is already an overwhelming amount of online information and I have a chance for one to one communication with my patients. 

Well, there are two main reasons for my desire to  blog. 

I believe that  communication is the key to success in any venture and all the more so in healthcare. 

Knowledge is power which takes away the fear of unknown and  empowers one to take charge of the situation. 

I have been in this specialty for more than 25 years and  I have worked in some of the best hospitals in India, the UK, and the UAE.

A common desire of patients, irrespective of nationality, culture, and religion, is to get uncomplicated and accurate solutions that cut through medical jargon. Many of my patients tell me that  online formation is not individualistic and many times makes them more anxious instead of allying their fears. The reason probably is cos most of the blogs are by non medical writers as doctors are too busy to pen down their thoughts. 

 My patients feel that my simple, sincere, and straightforward way of communication relieves them of their anxiety and helps them to cope with their situation better. 

 I specialize in High risk pregnancy care and Minimal access  (Laparoscopic & Hysteroscopic) surgeries. 

Communicating with patients in these situations is time consuming and  despite effective communication, it is difficult for patients to retain all that is said to them in one sitting. Many women, including those who are not my patients also have similar common queries. 

For instance, one of the recurring queries from women is on fasting in pregnancy during Ramadan. So, instead of answering each woman separately, I decided to blog to make the information accessible to all women, including those unknown to me.

 My blog is a bridge to reach out to not just my patients but to the women of this world. It aims to help them navigate the challenging journey of womanhood with straightforward answers to their health-related questions.

My blogs reflect my learning as a woman who has been through all phases of womanhood from puberty to pregnancy, motherhood and finally, menopause. Each stage is a milestone and has a distinctive mood. I feel grateful that I can draw upon my experiences to offer a perspective to the many concerns women face, medical and individual.

I feel privileged to be on this journey with them.