Why do I seem to get a cold right before my period is due?

Though some research suggests that PMS can impede your immune system, there's no proof that a woman is more susceptible to a viral infection like the common cold in the days before her flow shows up. More likely, you're confusing cold symptoms with signs of an ongoing allergy or sinus infection, since they're often the same: runny nose, sore throat, and a stuffy nose, explains Steven R. Goldstein, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine. "The drop in hormone levels prior to our period, as well as the stress brought on by PMS, can make these symptoms feel more pronounced," says Dr. Goldstein.

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