PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS)
What is PMS?
When a woman experiences a combination of physical, behavioral, and mood changes before or during each menstrual period that severe enough to interfere with daily life, she may be diagnosed as having premenstrual syndrome (PMS). For some women, these changes may be disabling.
What are the symptoms of PMS?
The symptoms of PMS include anxiety, depression, fatigue, mood swings, pelvic pain, to name only a few. The timing of symptoms may be more characteristic of PMS than the symptoms themselves, with symptoms generally appearing one to two weeks before the end of the cycle and ceasing when menstruation begins.
How is PMS diagnosed?
Before making a diagnosis of PMS, the doctor must evaluate the patient’s medical and social histories, and lifestyle. A thorough physical examination will help uncover any disorders that have similar symptoms. The patient may be asked to keep a daily diary of symptoms, to help determine if they are related to the menstrual cycle.
How is PMS treated?
Because it is difficult to predict a woman’s response to a particular therapy, a number of different treatments may be tried before determining which is best. Many treatments involve changing diet and exercise habits. Support groups, dietary supplements, hormone therapy, medications to treat specific symptoms, and anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications may be recommended.