Premenstrual syndrome

VOL 117 / NO 3 / MARCH 2005 / POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE

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If you feel so irritable and overwhelmed in the week or two before your menstrual period that you have a hard time dealing with your responsibilities, you may be among the 10% of premenopausal women who have premenstrual syndrome (PMS). About 90% of premenopausal women have some premenstrual symptoms, but these symptoms are considered PMS only when they interfere with work and home life.

What is PMS?
It is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that appear at the same time each month in connection with a woman's period.

The exact cause of PMS is unknown, but it is thought to be related to monthly changes in levels of sex hormones or chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters. Some experts believe that PMS may be caused by low levels of blood sugar, thyroid hormones, or dietary B vitamins, calcium, or magnesium. Lifestyle factors may also play a role.

Symptoms of PMS range from mild to severe and vary from woman to woman, but they include anxiety, moodiness, fatigue, depression, headache, craving certain foods, bloating, muscle aches, poor concentration, backache, acne breakouts, forgetfulness, and breast tenderness.

How is PMS diagnosed?
There are no laboratory or medical tests available to diagnose PMS. However, if symptoms consistently appear a week or two before your period and disappear when your period begins, it's likely that PMS is the cause.

Is there any way to treat PMS?
Some women have found relief from mood swings by taking an antidepressant. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (for example, Advil) can help alleviate headache, backache, and muscle aches, and avoiding alcohol, salty foods, and caffeine can ease breast tenderness. Your doctor may recommend taking either a diuretic to relieve bloating or a birth control pill to reduce overall symptoms or trying behavioral counseling to help you function better.

For more information on premenstrual syndrome American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 409 12th St SW PO Box 96920 Washington, DC 20090 202-863-2518 http://www.acog.org National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Blvd Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892 866-615-6464 http://www.nimh.nih.gov National Women's Health Information Center 8550 Arlington Blvd Suite 300 Fairfax, VA 22031 800-994-9662 http://www.4woman.org

This information is not a substitute for medical treatment.

Please send technical questions related to the Web site to Ann Harste