Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

PMS is a more severe stage of the normal menstrual signs that we get before menstruation. About 30% of women get some PMS symptoms. PMS differs from just the ordinary signs to heavy. PMS will normally incapacitate women for short periods of time or will cause her to alter her normal routine. One way of thinking about is that the normal period signs we get are the very mild signs. PMS are more severe than those, and PMDD are these symptoms in overdrive. PMS will normally disappear as soon as the heavy flow days start.

There is no medical test for PMS. A woman is asked to keep a diary/journal/chart of the signs she experiences, the medicines she takes, her flow and discharge and her mood for a few cycles.

PMS can strike or change in severity whenever a woman’s hormones change:

Puberty
Starting or Stopping hormonal birth control
After Pregnancy
After Abortion
After using an Emergency Contraceptive Pill (Morning-After pill)
With Pre-eclampsia
Postnatal Depression
Sterilization

The following are PMS symptoms:

Abdominal Pain or Bad Cramps
Headaches
Irritability
Nausea
Tiredness, Fatigue or Lethargy
Sleep Disorders (Insomnia)
Food Cravings
Mood Swings and Depression
Tension or Unease
Tearfulness or Feeling Low
Clumsiness or Poor Coordination
Difficulty Concentrating
Altered Interest in Sex (Less or More)
Aggression
Breast Tenderness
Swollen or Bloated Feelings
Puffiness of Face, Abdomen or Fingers
Weight Gain
Appetite Changes (Less or More)
Acne or Skin Rashes
Constipation or Diarrhoea
Muscle or Joint Stiffness
General Aches and Pains
Lower Back Pain
Passing Excessive Amounts of Gas

Treatments for PMS are the following:

Lifestyle Changes
Reducing Stress
Diet
Exercise
Limiting Alcohol and Smoking
Therapies like Angus Castus and Magnesium
Ovulation Suppression (birth control hormones)
SSRI (Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors) – Antidepressants
Hysterectomy
Menstrual Pain Medicine or Ibuprofen is taken from a few days before PMS is expected.

In truth, there is no single treatment for PMS. Women will have to try a whole lot of these treatments to discover what works for her.