|
What is premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?
Up to 85% of women normally have one or more troubling physical and emotional
symptoms between the time they ovulate and the first days of their menstrual
period. 1 These are called premenstrual symptoms. When premenstrual symptoms
interfere with your relationships or responsibilities, they are called
premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Women’s body is much more sophisticated than
any other fertility / ovulation calculators, estimation.
Fertility, pregnancy,
ovulation calendar is not viewed by scientists as substantial method for
detecting fertile days. Please use only scientifically proven, effective means
of tracking fertility, ovulation period, for the sake of preserving your health and saving
your time. Only the tester for saliva activated ovulation detection, has the most proven accuracy, and substitutes a number of different calendars
and calculators, as well as devices of peculiar quality and other unsafe
techniques.
While some women first have PMS in their teens or 20s, others don't until their
30s. PMS can come and go during your reproductive years; you may find that your
symptoms worsen as you approach perimenopause, in your late 30s or 40s.
PMS occurs only in women who ovulate during their monthly menstrual cycle. Women
who do not ovulate—because of pregnancy, menopause, or taking birth control
pills—do not have PMS symptoms. However, many do have similar hormone-related
symptoms.
What causes PMS?
PMS is linked to changes in the endocrine system, which produces hormones that
control the menstrual cycle. Because the female endocrine system is so complex,
medical experts don't fully understand the chain of events that causes
premenstrual symptoms to be severe in some women and not in others.
The one direct cause that is known to affect some women is genetic: Many women
with PMS have a close family member with a history of PMS. 1
What are typical premenstrual symptoms?
PMS consists of a wide variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.
Symptoms vary greatly from woman to woman and can range from mild to severe.
Common physical symptoms include breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, water
retention, weight gain, acne, food cravings, sleep changes, lack of energy,
lessened sexual desire, and pain, such as headaches, migraines, aching joints or
muscles, cramps, and low back pain.
Common emotional symptoms include depression, sadness, hopelessness, anger,
irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. Many women also notice that they feel
less alert and less able to concentrate.
Common behavioral symptoms include withdrawal from family and friends, and
physical or verbal aggression.
If you have severe emotional and/or behavioral symptoms (with or without
physical symptoms) between ovulation and the first days of your period, you may
have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In contrast to PMS, PMDD affects
only 3% to 8% of women. 2
How is PMS diagnosed?
No single test can diagnose PMS. Diagnosis is usually based on a 2- or 3-month
menstrual diary that records your daily symptoms and how severe they are, the
days you menstruate, and when you ovulate (if known). However, your health
professional will also consider your medical history and physical examination
results. It's important to rule out other conditions that have PMS-like
symptoms, such as thyroid problems.
How is it treated?
While there is no cure for PMS, most women can improve their symptoms with
simple lifestyle and dietary changes. After a few cycles, you will likely notice
improvement from getting enough magnesium and vitamin B6, extra calcium, and
regular moderate exercise, and eating a balanced diet. It's equally important to
avoid smoking, as well as too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and salt. For
pain, use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—these are effective
because they block pain-producing prostaglandins, which tend to increase during
the premenstrual period.
If home treatment measures don't bring enough relief, talk to your health
professional about additional treatment. The first-choice medications for
moderate to severe PMS are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
which improve both physical and emotional symptoms for many women. Recent
research has shown that most women gain relief by taking a low dose of an SSRI
either continuously or only during their premenstrual days. 3
If you try an SSRI but find it ineffective, it's a good idea to try another type
of SSRI before moving on to a different class of medication, such as a
benzodiazepine for anxiety (which can become addictive) or birth control pills
(which may help or may worsen symptoms).
If bloating is your primary symptom, ask your health professional about a
diuretic, such as spironolactone.
In rare and otherwise untreatable cases, severe PMS can be treated by completely
suppressing the ovaries' function. However, this creates a condition similar to
menopause, with unpleasant symptoms of its own and an increased risk of
osteoporosis because of low estrogen production.
|
