Many people notice a pattern of physical and emotional changes in the days or week before bleeding starts, and these are usually the best clues that a period is coming soon.
Common body signs
- Cramping or a dull ache low in the belly, back, or thighs as the uterus starts to contract and prepare to shed its lining.
- Bloating or feeling puffy, with clothes fitting more tightly around the stomach because shifting hormones make the body hold more fluid.
- Breast soreness, swelling, or tenderness that eases after the period actually starts.
- Changes in vaginal discharge, which may become thicker, stickier, cloudier, or even slightly brown right before bleeding.
- Skin changes such as new pimples or acne flares shortly before the period.
Mood and energy changes
- Mood swings, feeling more irritable, weepy, anxious, or sensitive than usual, often called premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Feeling extra tired, low on energy, or having trouble sleeping around this time.
- Food cravings or feeling hungrier than normal, especially for salty or sweet foods.
Tracking helps you predict
- If you already get periods, tracking the first day of bleeding each month on a calendar or app helps you see your usual cycle length and guess when the next one is due.
- Writing down symptoms (cramps, mood, breast pain, discharge, skin changes) lets you see which ones reliably show up in the days before your period so you recognize your own pattern over time.
When symptoms don’t mean a period
- Sometimes PMS‑like signs happen but the period doesn’t come because of stress, illness, weight changes, new hormonal birth control, or pregnancy.
- If your period is very late, you are sexually active, or have severe pain, very heavy bleeding, or symptoms that affect daily life, a pregnancy test and a visit with a doctor or nurse are important to rule out other causes.
If you tell your age, whether you’ve already had a period before, and what symptoms you are noticing right now, more tailored guidance can be given.
