Nausea is one of many symptoms of PMS and it can be quite unsettling and very unpleasant. When you feel nauseous, you lose your appetite as well. This makes it even more difficult to concentrate on your daily activities.It becomes even difficult to manage things when you start throwing up because of severe nausea. It is really tough to deal with nausea, and it can put you in stress when you take nausea as a sign of pregnancy. Remember that if it’s PMS nausea that starts just before a period, it should go away when the bleeding starts.

Is It Normal to Feel Nauseous Before Period?

Yes, nausea is one PMS symptom among some women and if you feel nauseous every time before you have period, you can rest assured that nothing is going wrong with your body. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is usually the reason why you get sick right before periods. About 75% of women experience symptoms of PMS, and this has something to do with a drop in your estrogen hormone levels before your period starts. Besides hormonal changes, other factors such as nutritional deficiencies, fluctuation in brain chemicals, and poor diet may also trigger PMS symptoms. Excessive caffeine intake and too much of salty foods may make your symptoms worse.

Feeling nauseous before period happens due to many different reasons. For instance:

• You start to feel nauseous due to period pain. You experience menstrual cramps in the uterus due to certain chemicals, including prostaglandins that lead to muscle spasm. This can lead to discomfort and nausea.
• You may experience nausea due to other pain associated with PMS such as menstrual headaches or breast pain.
• The change in hormone levels in PMS may affect the function of the digestive tract, which in turn may lead to nausea.
• Hormonal imbalances sometimes affect the part of the brain that controls vomiting and nausea.

In addition to feeling nauseous before period, you will also experience some other symptoms of PMS, including water retention, intense food cravings, abdominal cramps, and acne. Lower back pain, insomnia, exhaustion, irritabilityand mood swings are also some common PMS symptoms.

Can I Be Pregnant?

Your nausea may be due to pregnancy, but you will experience some other symptoms as well. At about 3 weeks into pregnancy, which is the time when a fertilized egg moves through the fallopian tube through a process called cell division down into the uterus. You may experience some spotting (pink or brown color) when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining. Along with implantation spotting, you may also have tender breasts, fatigue, food aversions, nausea, a heightened sense of smell, and frequent urination, which can also be early pregnancy signs.

Most women get their period about 4 weeks from the start of their last period. It means that if your period has not arrived after 4 weeks, you may be pregnant. This is usually the time when you may experience pregnancy symptoms. Remember to take a blood test to make sure if you doubt pregnancy, or take a home pregnancy test about 5 days past your due date.

Feeling Nauseous Before Period: How to Find Relief

You can opt for home remedies, use herbs, or talk to your doctor to find an appropriate treatment option.

• Ginger: It has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, so it proves beneficial against nausea and PMS symptoms. Drinking ginger tea may help.
• Take Vitamin B6: You can take supplements containing vitamin B6 or eat food rich in vitamin B6 to reduce nausea. It helps with nausea associated with pregnancy and premenstrual syndrome. Do not exceed 100mg a day or it may cause certain side effects.
• Avoid Fatty Food: Eating heavy, fatty food will make you feel bloated and nauseous because your stomach cannot digest these foods easily.
• Try Some Herbs: Agnus castus is an effective herb to treat nausea and symptoms associated with PMS. Avoid it though if you are already using hormonal treatments. Other herbs effective against nausea are cayenne, mint, ginger, and cloves.
• Try Acupressure: There is an acupuncture point on the wrist called PC6 that helps treat nausea. Even if you do not know much about acupressure, you do not need to worry because there are special wristbands available today to help relieve your symptoms.

You should seek medical advice if your nausea does not respond to natural remedies and herbs. It is important to talk to your doctor because sometimes nausea indicates an underlying medical condition. Your doctor may prescribe strong anti-nausea medicines to help control your symptoms. They may also decide to treat the problem of PMS if your symptoms are severe. You may have to take oral contraceptives or other hormonal medicines to stop feeling nauseous before period.

What Others Say

Some usually do not have nausea before period, while others do, here are some cases:

"It was never easy for me to deal with the time right before my period. I used to throw up before my period. Cramping was always severe. Things have changed a bit now because I still feel nauseous but I no longer vomit. It is really bad I have to go through all this."

"I thought I was feeling nauseous before period because of stress. However, I also experienced other issues, such as breast soreness, severe mood swings, intolerance, etc. Then, I missed my period and a few days later decided to take the test. I had 3 positives."

"I was feeling strange at just 3 weeks with breast soreness, nausea, and indigestion. Even though I did not miss a period, my symptoms were indicating a pregnancy.  I took 3 tests about 3 days before my period date and they were all positive. I think every woman is different and it is important to wait for a few more days before you go for a test."