This information is for you if you have, or you think you have, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and want to know more about it. It is also for all those who see their partner, relative, or friend who is affected by PMS. 

Premenstrual syndrome is a collection of symptoms, physical, psychological, and emotional, that a girl/woman can experience 1-2 weeks before her menstrual periods. Some women get their periods without any symptoms or very mild symptoms. While some suffer severe PMS symptoms that they actually have to skip work/school. Few women might have not even experienced PMS from menarche (1^st period). PMS stops when a woman’s menstruation stops, eg post-menopause or during pregnancy. After the delivery of the baby, a woman might experience PMS again, but the symptoms could differ.

Who gets PMS

Researches have stated that most women experience some mild form of PMS at least once in their reproductive life. In research conducted on 448 women, 79.5% believed they suffer PMS symptoms every time before they get their periods.

It has been noticed that women with:

• High-stress levels

• Unhealthy lifestyle

• History of depression

• Postpartum depression etc

Face more severe symptoms than others.

Symptoms

As mentioned above symptoms differ from one woman to another, they could be physical, eg. bloating, cramps; or psychological, eg. Anger, frustration, etc.

Some common physical symptoms include:

• Breast tenderness

• Lower abdominal cramps

• Constipation/diarrhoea

• Bloating

• Gassiness

• Body ache

• Low tolerance to noise and light

• Low energy levels

Common psychological symptoms include:

• Increased irritability

• Anxiety

• Restless

• Sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)

• Appetite changes or food cravings

• Trouble with concentration or memory

• Tension or anxiety

• Depression, feelings of sadness, or crying spells

• Mood swings

• Less interest in sex

Causes

The exact cause of PMS is not yet well established. Some researchers think PMS is caused by the sudden drop in the hormones like estrogen and progesterone after ovulation. The symptoms again subside within a few days post a woman’s period starts as the hormones gradually start rising.

Diagnosis

There are no specific clinical diagnostic tests for PMS. Your doctor will ask you about your experience, symptoms, the time when they start and are at their peak, how it affects your day-to-day life, etc.

Notice these things before your next periods:

• Behavioral changes and body pain in the five days before your period for at least three menstrual cycles in a row

• Symptoms end within four days after your period starts

• Keep you from enjoying or doing some of your normal activities

Track your symptoms and try to maintain a diary for a few months. Notice the most common symptoms, when they are the most severe. There are a lot of apps also available online these days. Take this information with you to the doctor on your next visit.

It is the timing, rather than the types of symptoms, and the degree of impact on daily activity that supports a diagnosis of PMS. PMS is a symptom-based syndrome that can be managed wonderfully with awareness and small modifications in our daily lifestyle