Understanding PMS Part – 1

PMS, as defined by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology is “The cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are sufficiently severe to interfere with some aspects of life, and that appear with consistent and predictable relationship to the menstrual period." Studies show that about 85% of women of childbearing age experience symptoms of PMS, in varying degrees, although only between 2% to 10% experience severe symptoms. Treated as a topic for sitcom jokes for many years, PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome to give it its correct name, is now recognized as a genuine medical condition and one that, if the symptoms are severe enough, requires treatment. The symptoms of PMS can be both physical and also psychological and occur just before the beginning of the menstrual period.

The Causes

The exact cause of PMS is still being researched and debated, but the consensus is that the fluctuations in hormone levels that occur just before the onset of your period is a major factor. The fluctuations, especially of estrogen and progesterone are part of the natural preparation of the body to menstruate.

The Symptoms

The symptoms of PMS are many and varied and can occur in a variety of combinations. The types, number and severity of the symptoms differ from woman to woman and also from month to month for each woman. The main, and most common symptoms include:

• Abnormal food cravings and a desire to overeat.
• Aggression and / or bouts of anger.
• Anxiety and / or feelings of depression.
• Bloating / water retention.
• Breast tenderness and increased sensitivity.
• Fatigue and listlessness.
• Headaches and backaches.
• Irritation with things that are normally not a problem.
• Sudden and possibly very strong mood swings that occur without warning and for no apparent reason.
• Tearfulness and a tendency to cry for no real reason.
• Trouble in concentrating or focusing on important matters.

There are other possible symptoms and if you think you have symptoms of PMS, consult your gynecologist to find out if that is the case and if so, what steps you need to take to control the problem.

The Diagnosis

There is no single comprehensive test or set of tests to determine if a woman is suffering from PMS or not. There are some strategies that a health care provider may suggest to help in making a diagnosis, but the problem here is that the type and severity of the symptoms can vary from month to month. That being said, the two most common courses of action are:

• A Thyroid Test: Since the symptoms of thyroid disease are often similar to PMS, a test of this nature will help to reveal if there is a thyroid condition that needs to be treated. If not, then the possibility of PMS is increased.
•  Maintaining a PMS diary: You will be asked to maintain a record of your PMS symptoms, duration and severity over a period of a few months. This will allow your doctor to understand the case better and decide if you are suffering from PMS or not.

In the next part of this blog we will share tips and suggestions on how to manage and overcome PMS.