Period Symptoms: Signs Your Period is Coming

March 12, 2021By Experts at Rael

Updated Feb 5, 2026

It feels like you just finished your last period, yet here you are feeling slightly crampy, achy, emotional, and lethargic. Are you getting a virus … or just your period? Unless you keep track of your period with an app or a calendar, you might not know.

Rael knows periods, and we know what happens to your body during your entire menstrual cycle, be it 28 days or longer. If you’d like to feel a little more in the know about period symptoms, we can help.

We can tell you whether it’s time to reorder more organic cotton tampons or just time to grab a heating patch to help get you through your ovulation day.

First and foremost, breathe deep. Your period is a sign your body is functioning as it should. Your monthly cycle is your body’s way of keeping your uterus and ovaries healthy. Missed periods, on the other hand, could be concerning. If you aren’t pregnant, a missed period could be an indication of a bigger health concern and a definite sign you should call your doctor.

We’ll talk about your monthly menstrual cycle, the symptoms you could experience that let you know your period is on the way, what symptoms you can experience when you ovulate, and how you can keep comfortable with the best in holistic period care products.

Why Early Signs Matter

Noticing early symptoms, such as bloating, cramping, or emotional shifts, gives you a heads-up for the week ahead. Being aware of these changes can help you plan your schedule, prepare comfort measures, and feel a little more in control. Paying attention to how you feel at different stages of the menstrual cycle can make spotting these early signs easier.

Journaling or using a period-tracking app is a simple way to spot recurring premenstrual symptoms. By keeping note of what shows up each cycle and how intense it feels, you’ll start to see patterns. Over time, this insight helps you anticipate your body’s changes and manage your comfort with more ease. Tracking these changes can also help you understand each menstrual cycle phase and symptoms, providing a clearer picture of your body’s rhythm.

Signs Your Period is Coming

It’s more than just cramps. In fact, some of us don’t even get cramps before our periods, so knowing it is coming can be hard to tell. Although cramping in the lower abdominal region is usually a tell-tale sign of your period, it’s not always the case. Here are six ways you can tell your period is on its way.

1. Blemishes

Cyclic blemishes happen monthly in connection with your hormone changes. In the week leading up to your period, hormonal changes trigger our sebaceous glands to begin overproducing oil which can clog your pores and cause breakouts.

Women in their 20s and 30s often begin seeing hormonal breakouts along their jawline and on their chin. Painful, hard, under-the-skin bumps, are also very common prior to your period.

The Solution

Hydrocolloid patches. Tiny, clear, barely visible patches you place over bumps keep your hands off your skin (no picking) and help reduce the appearance of raised bumps over time. Rael’s blemish patches come in two different types: one for bumps that have already erupted (whiteheads and red bumps) and one for under-the-skin cysts.

2. Bloating and Gas

There’s a reason your favorite high-waisted jeans won’t zip up. Your body retains water prior to your period, causing you to feel bloated, weigh a little more on the scale, and even look puffy around your eyes.

Rising levels of estrogen prior to your period can also cause you to have gas, which can contribute to feeling bloated and uncomfortable. The combination of water retention and gas can even cause you to have abdominal pain, also.

The Solution

Cutting back on salt the week before your period and increasing your water intake can help you keep bloating at bay. If you’re especially gassy, avoiding an excess of fiber the week before your period can help; just be sure you’re still getting plenty of fruits and vegetables.

You can also consider taking a probiotic to keep your digestive system healthy and happy so you don’t experience as much GI discomfort.

3. Cramps

Cramps are the classic premenstrual symptom. Cramps can occur before and during your period and usually go away after your period is finished. You may experience some cramping during ovulation, which usually happens about a week after your period, or halfway through your cycle.

Cramping occurs on both sides and in the middle of your lower abdomen. Some women experience extremely painful cramps that can be almost debilitating. Those types of cramps can be a sign of a deeper health concern, so it’s best to see your doctor if you’re experiencing them.

The Solution

Holistic care works wonders for period cramps. Rael’s heating patches are the perfect solution for providing natural, drug-free warming comfort during period cramps. Our patches are infused with a blend of herbs that help increase blood flow and bring relief.

Heating patches are applied to your undergarments around common sites of aching and worn for up to six hours of continual warmth and relief.

4. Breast Swelling and Pain

This period symptom is one of the first to occur; in fact, breast pain usually coincides with ovulation, beginning just a few days before you ovulate, and sometimes lasting up until a day or so into your period.

During this time, your breasts can feel swollen, tender, and uncomfortable even in your most comfortable bras.

The Solution

Normally, breast pain isn’t so severe that you actually need to seek out medicinal relief. Wearing a looser bra or one without an underwire can help keep you more comfortable. A bra that is lightly lined may also feel more comfortable and provide a protective barrier against the abrasion from your clothing.

5. You’re Emotional

Yesterday, you were fine. Today, you’re a little extra sensitive for what feels like no apparent reason. Give yourself some grace and remember this is only temporary.

Hormonal changes before your period can cause you to feel a vast range of emotions in rapid succession. It can feel like a rollercoaster day-to-day and even hour by hour.

Although your emotional overwhelm usually dissipates by the second or third day of your period, you can experience another dip in mood during ovulation that can make you feel sad and depressed.

Depression is often linked to hormonal changes during your period, and it’s normal to feel a little down. If you’re experiencing feelings of hopelessness or extreme sadness, it could be a sign of something more concerning. Call your doctor to discuss your options.

The Solution

Being patient with yourself is the best remedy for the emotional drain you experience before your period. Try to stay focused and take good care of yourself. It can be helpful to take a yoga class, meditate, or schedule your favorite self-care routine (like a facial or a massage) the week before your period.

Exercise is also a great way to elevate your mood, release endorphins, and help you feel better. As a bonus, it will also support circulation, help manage bloating, and promote overall comfort, all of which also boost your mood.

6. Discharge

It’s perfectly normal to experience vaginal discharge prior to your actual period. This discharge, called leukorrhea, is the precursor to your period. Discharge is usually white to yellowish and can be relatively thick.

This discharge happens when certain hormone levels peak prior to your period. It’s completely natural and is no cause for alarm unless you experience unpleasant symptoms along with it, like burning, itching, or a foul odor.

The Solution

It may be natural, but it’s definitely not something you want to end up in your underwear. Rael’s organic cotton micro thin liners are the perfect way to keep your underwear clean so you can feel comfortable throughout the day. Our liners contain no harsh chemicals or dyes that could irritate delicate vaginal skin, and are so thin you’ll likely forget they’re there.

How Your Body Prepares for Your Period

Your cycle is constantly working behind the scenes, even when you don’t notice it. In the days leading up to your period, your body shifts gears in subtle ways to get everything ready. Understanding what’s happening inside can make those sudden mood swings, cravings, or energy dips feel a little less mysterious.

Hormonal Signals

Every month, your hormones send cues that help guide your cycle. As progesterone and estrogen rise and fall, they thicken your uterine lining and set the stage for menstruation. These shifts can affect everything from your skin to your energy levels, which is why you might feel slightly “off” before your period officially starts. It’s your body’s way of transitioning from one phase of your cycle to the next.¹

Physical Indicators

You might notice small changes before your period arrives—feeling a bit more tired than usual, craving certain foods, or dealing with light aches that seem to pop up out of nowhere. These symptoms are simply your body responding to those hormonal changes. They may not always feel comfortable, but they’re normal, natural, and a reminder that your cycle is moving right on time.² Some even notice shifts in their luteal phase face as part of these physical cues.

The Takeaway

You can experience some or all of these symptoms the week before your period and they can last until two to three days into your period. Some symptoms may return for a day or so during ovulation, about a week after you finish your period.

You can find comfort for period symptoms with Rael’s holistic period care products. We think everyone deserves a happy, healthy, and comfortable period.

Sources: