Mood Swings Before Period
Irritability, tearfulness, and emotional sensitivity in the week before your period are driven by hormonal fluctuations. Here's how to distinguish PMS from PMDD — and track your patterns.
Medical disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dawn Phase is not a medical device. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional with questions about your health.
What causes it
Progesterone and oestrogen both influence serotonin and GABA signalling in the brain. In the late luteal phase, both hormones fall sharply, reducing serotonin availability and destabilising mood regulation. Women with premenstrual mood changes often have a normal hormonal profile — their brains appear more sensitive to the fluctuations rather than having abnormally high or low hormone levels.
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Start free — no card neededHow to track it
Log mood daily using a simple scale or emotion categories. The critical thing to track is timing: if mood symptoms consistently appear in the 7–14 days before your period and resolve within 1–2 days of it starting, that confirms a premenstrual pattern. Symptoms present throughout the whole cycle are unlikely to be purely hormonal.
When to see a doctor
If mood symptoms are severe enough to affect your relationships, work, or daily functioning, or include hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, or extreme rage, consider evaluation for PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). PMDD is a recognised condition that responds well to treatment — SSRIs, hormonal therapy, or both.
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Log symptoms daily and see how they connect to your cycle phases.
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