Coffee has become a part of our everyday life and sometimes even a survival mode and addiction. Caffeine helps us not only wake up but also feel energetic and gives us the power to get through the endless to-do list of every day regardless of how many hours of sleep we’ve gotten. The question is, can caffeine affect premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms?
Caffeine and PMS
Via: Coffee Association – Coffee PMS
For people who experience severe PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends avoiding caffeine consumption during the luteal phase as it can affect sleep and end up causing more fatigue. This only makes PMS symptoms more intense. To help you understand the impact of caffeine on your PMS symptoms, you first have to understand how caffeine works.
Caffeine is a stimulant that boosts the production of adrenaline in the body which ends up spiking the heart rate and getting your blood pumping. However, it also plays a role in activating the noradrenaline neurons, known as stress hormones, and end up having an effect of decreasing the blood flow to the brain which can make PMS more intense, as the rise in these hormones can lead to blood vessels restricting activity and leading to more tension and pain in the body.
Does caffeine reduce cramps during PMS?
Coffee doesn’t help with period or PMS cramps, in fact, it can even make period cramps worse. How? Well, caffeine tends to block a hormone that can make blood vessels smaller, which ends up slowing the flow of blood. Not only that, but caffeine can also cause inflammation and bloating, which actually tends to aggravate period and PMS cramps. However, it is important to understand that people’s sensitivity to caffeine and the impact it has on their body can vary from one person to the other affecting how it impacts PMS.
Further reading:
- PMS: Signs Your Period Is Coming
- How to Spot Series: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
- How to Deal With Your Period at Night
Sources used in this article:
- Does caffeine help with cramps? – Flo Health
- Effects of caffeine on PMS – Livestrong
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