Premenstrual
Syndrome (PMS)
How do
I know if I have premenstrual syndrome? (PMS)
How common is
PMS?
What treatment is available for severe PMS?
Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index
How do I know if I have
premenstrual syndrome? (PMS)
Premenstrual
syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a combination of physical and
psychological symptoms that occur in a cyclic pattern, appearing during
the week before your menstrual period and often improving with the onset
of bleeding. The symptoms can be extremely distressing and usually include
irritability, anxiety or depression, diminished self-esteem, difficulty
concentrating, sleep problems, appetite changes, low energy, bloating,
headache and breast swelling and tenderness. The types and severity of
symptoms vary from one woman to another. Some have defined the term PMS as
requiring that at least one psychological and one physical symptom be
present monthly during the premenstrual period. Women may want to seek
treatment when their symptoms are so severe that they seriously interfere
with their daily activities.
How common is PMS?
Research suggests
that as many as seventy-five percent of menstruating women have some
premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Of these, most have psychological symptoms
including oversensitivity to events that are not so upsetting at other
times, episodes of crying during the premenstrual week, irritability,
tension, and moodiness. Appetite changes are also very common and
approximately seventy-five percent of women report sweet or salty
cravings. Some women experience hot flushes, palpitations, dizziness, and
gastrointestinal upset. The majority of these symptoms are fairly mild and
do not need treatment. A much smaller number, (probably three to eight
percent of women) have a more severe syndrome which can be disabling.
What
treatment is available for severe PMS?
Many treatments have
been tried for alleviating the symptoms of PMS but no treatment has been
found that is consistently effective. Treatments include lifestyle and
stress management, dietary restrictions (salt or carbohydrate), diuretics,
prostaglandin inhibitors (such as Motrin), progesterone (hormone
treatment), ovulation inhibitors, vitamins (pyridoxine), lithium and
antidepressants. One approach has been to use hormonal manipulation,
including oral contraceptives, to stop ovulation from occurring. There is
some evidence to suggest that a brain chemical, serotonin, may play a role
in severe forms of PMS. Antidepressants that alter the serotonin system
have been shown to help many women with severe forms of PMS who failed
other treatments. These have become the first line treatments at this time
due to their low incidence of side effects and their good success rate.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
Return to Frequently Asked
Questions Index
|
