A vegan fitness blogger has shared a photo of the extreme bloating she experiences as a result of PMS, in order to show other women it’s “nothing to be ashamed of”.
Malin Olofsson told her 10,000 Instagram followers that she suffers from bloating every month when her period is due, to the extent that people wrongly assume she is pregnant.
“This is the visual signs of PMS for me and many other women [sic]. For some it’s less extreme, for some it’s more,” she captioned the image.
“Water retention is a very normal and common symptom of PMS. Some women will hardly notice it and some go through immense discomfort for a couple of days a month. It can start anytime between ovulation and your period.
“This is normal. This is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Olofsson went on to say that she used to feel pressure to hide her bloated stomach and would often try to suck it in, despite the pain.
But recently she decided to accept and embrace her body.
“I’ve decided that breathing is more important than what other people may or might [not] think,” she said.
“I’ve decided that my body’s reaction to the hormonal change is not going to be an aspect that I let contribute to my already unstable mental state. Because when I have PMS, I already feel like dying. And I’ve decided to love my body no matter how I feel about life.”
She ended her post with a message to other women who feel self-conscious about their bodies as a result of PMS.
“Do not blame your body for how you’re feeling. It is never your body’s fault. It is never anything wrong with how your body looks,” she said.
“Yes, your body might experience discomfort due to hormonal changes, so instead of making it worse through shaming your body, try doing the opposite.
“Realise that this is when you need extra self-care and self-love. Realise that you don’t have to be ashamed and hide. You are perfect and your body is just doing its job.”
More than 8,000 people have liked the image, with many women commenting to say Olofsson’s post helped them accept their own bloating.
“Thank you so much for posting. You are not alone. I get asked if I am pregnant on a monthly basis,” one user said.
Another added: “Thank you for showing me I’m not alone on this. I would go through long periods of self disgust and discomfort and thinking I was just fat... but my stomach was hard and looked so pregnant. Now I see it’s normal.”
According to Dr Helen Webberley, the dedicated GP for Oxford Online Pharmacy, it’s “perfectly normal to experience swelling as part of the menstrual cycle”.
“As levels of oestrogen and progesterone increase they can cause fluid retention. The less body fat a person has around their midriff, the more pronounced the bloating can appear,” she told The Huffington Post UK.
“There are a few things which can increase fluid retention - these include salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine, so reduce your intake. Avoid overly fatty foods which can be hard to digest and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
“Ironically, increasing the amount of water you drink can also reduce water retention. Aim for eight glasses a day. Exercise can help as it improves circulation.”
She added that if bloating is unusual or unexpected to you, then you should see a doctor.
11 Questions Women Have About Their Periods
Why Is My Period Heavy?(01 of11)
Open Image ModalWhy Is My Period Too Light?(02 of11)
Open Image ModalUnlike extremely heavy periods, which can signal other health issues, light periods aren't as much of a concern. "The normal amount of bleeding is variable and ranges from light to heavy depending on the woman," Wong explains. As long as your periods are regularly occurring (every 23 to 35 days) there should be no concern. "If the amount of flow changes to become lighter it may represent a slight hormonal shift that is probably of no significance," Wong says. (credit:Piotr Marcinski via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Late?(03 of11)
Open Image ModalWhy Is My Period Early?(04 of11)
Open Image ModalJust like late periods, early periods usually have a hormonal cause including stress, polycystic ovarian disease or thyroid hormone abnormality, says Wong.
And abnormal spotting or bleeding can also be mistaken for an earlier period — if you are concerned, check with your doctor. (credit:LuminaStock via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Brownish In Colour?(05 of11)
Open Image ModalBrown coloured blood is common during the final days of your period. According to Wong, this is a result of the blood that has been settled in the uterus being expelled. (credit:gpointstudio via Getty Images)
Why Did I Miss My Period?(06 of11)
Open Image Modal"Missing a solitary period is likely from a temporary hormonal imbalance, usually caused by stress," says Wong. But birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring and IUD can also cause very light or non-existent bleeding.
If your periods become regular again after a missed period, then there should be no cause for alarm. However, if you regularly miss periods or have an irregular bleeding pattern, you could be experiencing hormonal issues caused by stress, abnormal thyroid levels, or polycystic disease.
As a reminder, if your period is irregular you should consult your doctor.
(credit:Marjan_Apostolovic via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Lasting More Than Seven Days?(07 of11)
Open Image ModalPeriods can last anywhere between two and seven days, but anything more than this is considered a prolonged period.
"If you have periods lasting more than seven days on a regular basis, you should contact your doctor," says Wong.
Prolonged periods are often associated with heavy periods, and can lead to iron deficiency anemia that will affect your overall health.
(credit:gldburger via Getty Images)
Why Am I Getting My Period Twice, While On The Pill?(08 of11)
Open Image ModalAccording to Wong, this is actually a normal side effect of starting a new birth control pill, especially on that is low dose and is referred to as "break through bleeding."
If this is happening in the middle of the cycle, then it is likely hormonal and of no concern. But if it persists more than three months, Wong recommends seeing a doctor to adjust your medication and rule out other causes such as uterine/cervical polyps, and infection.
It is also advised to get an updated pap smear and cervical cancer screening in this scenario. (credit:SCIENCE SOURCE via Getty Images)
Why Did I Start Spotting Early?(09 of11)
Open Image ModalSpotting can be a side effect of being on a birth control pill, or using a copper IUD, Wong explains.
Spotting can be due to infections (STDs) and, or more concern, a sign of cervical cancer.
Harmless causes of vaginal spotting between periods can also include polyps on the cervix or a condition called "cervical ectropion," which are sensitive cells that protrude on the exposed surface of the cervix and are prone to infection and abrasions, Wong explains.
Your doctor should be able to detect both of these conditions during a pap smear.
(credit:Dorling Kindersley via Getty Images)
Why Am I Clotting?(10 of11)
Open Image Modal"Clotting can be a sign that your periods are very heavy," says Wong. (Check out the heavy periods section for more information). (credit:PhotoAlto/Odilon Dimier via Getty Images)
Why Am I Pooping A Lot More?(11 of11)
Open Image ModalDuring your period, the lining of your uterus produces a natural chemical called prostaglandins, Wong says. Prostaglandins causes small contractions of the uterus to help shed the lining during your period which can cause cramping. It also affects the intestines and can increase movement of the bowel, which results in more frequent bowel movements and sometimes, diarrhea. (credit:Vast Photography via Getty Images)