Health Tips

Eight-five percent of women will experience premenstrual symptoms during their reproductive years. Treatment for premenstrual syndrome may be indicated if three or more mild to moderate symptoms are present that affect your work, your relationship with others, or your own sense of well being. Thankfully PMS relief is available in a variety of forms.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of PMS?

The symptoms and signs of PMS vary widely from individual to individual and even from month to month. In the course of a woman's child-bearing years the effects of premenstrual syndrome may wax and wane and cover a gamut of emotional and physical manifestations. Altogether there are some 150 symptoms associated with PMS including breast tenderness, water retention with accompanying weight gain, changes in bowel habits, outbreaks of acne, food cravings, fatigue, aching muscles and joints, irritability, aggression, withdrawal, mood swings, and an inability to concentrate or think clearly.

Are my Symptoms PMS related or caused by Something Else?

Because PMS symptoms manifest in a wide variety of ways, they can mask the presence of other problems. The best way to determine if your symptoms can be attributed to PMS is to monitor the day on which ovulation occurs, which is generally 14 days before the next menstrual period (although it can vary widely).

Ovulation can be determined by monitoring basal body temperature. A woman's temperature will decrease slightly just before ovulation and then increase markedly 24 hours later. By measuring temperature before getting out of bed each morning and maintaining a chart, most women are able to estimate when they are ovulating and judge the onset of their symptoms accordingly.

What causes PMS?

Normal changes in a woman's endocrine system that begin at the point of ovulation and continue until the onset of menstruation cause the host of symptoms that comprise PMS. Any number of hormone changes are possible as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries all work together to produce an egg and to prepare the female body for the potential of pregnancy. If any one part of the system is not working properly, the entirety of the system is affected.

How is PMS Diagnosed?

There is no specific test for PMS although a thyroid test is a good idea as thyroid deficiencies can cause problems similar to those present in premenstrual syndrome. For the most part, however, a diagnosis tends to be based on anecdotal evidence provided by the patient. Keeping a diary of your symptoms and their severity through at least two to three cycles will help you to evaluate your condition and will be invaluable for your physicians if you seek medical assistance. (This would include records of basal body temperature if you have tried to determine the timing of your ovulation