PMS Symptoms And Diagnosis

More than 150 PMS symptoms have been reported. Well, don’t
get freaked out! Only a few of these symptoms are frequently seen.

This article  presents
the three groups of symptoms of PMS, together with tips on its definition and
treatment.

But first..

What Is PMS?

PMS is a collection of symptoms related to  the menstrual cycle which cause significant
distress and/or problems getting around with routine daily activities.

Initially, PMS was thought to be “all in your head”. Today,  it is a somewhat  defined medical condition that requires
diagnosis and treatment.

PMS Causes

There is no single known identifiable cause of PMS.
Furthermore, the exact mechanism by which PMS occurs is also not fully known. A
lot of research is still going on.

Nobody likes this! Neither the woman with PMS nor the
doctor. I sometimes feel embarrassed when my patients  take a deep breath and ask, “how come you
guys don’t know the cause yet?”

Common PMS Symptoms

As noted above, there are more than 150 reported symptoms of
PMS which can be grouped into three- emotional (mood), physical or
behavioral

Mood symptoms

These include Anxiety, nervousness, mood swings,
irritability, depression, forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty falling
asleep(insomnia) and hostility.

PMS depression is one of the most serious manifestations of the disease. Behavioral symptoms PMS may make a woman exhibit some unusual behavior such as cravings for sweets, increased eating, crying, poor concentration, sensitivity to noise or changes in alcohol tolerance Physical or body symptoms Include headache, heart pounding, fatigue, dizziness, weight gain, bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, constipation or diarrhea You may be intrigued to learn that a  similar though distinct condition occurs in males. Many women who know about it have called it male PMS.

Some Facts To Remember

Some key features to note about these symptoms include

• They are cyclical and recurrent. They occur in cycles like
  the menstrual cycle itself
• Symptoms usually start during the  second major phase of the menstrual cycle
  called the luteal phase, before menstruation. It may occur about 2 to 14 days
  before the start of menses
• They are severe enough to interfere with routine activity.
  These symptoms decrease  productivity at
  work with more work absences and doctor’s visits.   
• There is usually a symptom free period shortly after
  menstruation
• The types of symptoms are fairly the same from cycle to
  cycle  and fairly specific for each woman. They last about 6 days every month and are most often
  severe in  the four days before through
  the first two to three days of menses
• The exact PMS symptoms vary from woman to woman. Don’t expect
  two women to have the same set of symptoms.

PMS Diagnosis

There is no laboratory test or unique physical findings to
confirm the diagnosis of PMS. Diagnosis should not be made at home. Please see
a doctor if you suspect you might be having PMS to establish the diagnosis and/or
 exclude other related causes.

 To help with diagnosis, symptoms have to be charted for about
2 to 3 cycles.

PMS Treatment

Though there is no cure for PMS in terms of complete
eradication, there are some strategies which are effective to provide some
relief for most women. These generally include lifestyle measures and
medications.

References

If you want more 
technical information on this, please consult the two selected
resources below

1.      American
College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

           ACOG
practice bulletin: premenstrual syndrome. Int J Gynecol Obstet, 73 (2001), pp.
183–191

2.      Yonkers KA,
O’Brien PM, Eriksson E. Premenstrual syndrome. Lancet 2008; 371:1200.

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