Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a wide range of symptoms that occur during the second half of the menstrual cycle. They start few days before the period starts and settle as soon as the period starts.
The most common symptoms include:
- Mood swings and irritability
- Bloating or feeling distended
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Food cravings
- Headache
Other symptoms include:
- Tiredness
- Breast tenderness
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Irritable and aggressive behavior
- Sleep problems
The exact cause of PMS is not known. Various factors such as social, cultural, biological, and psychological play a role. Hormonal factors in the brain also are implicated.
There are no specific signs or laboratory tests that can diagnose PMS. Therefore one has to do a complete medical checkup and certain investigations to rule out other possible causes of symptoms, and then make a diagnosis by excluding all other causes.
Sometimes just keeping a diary of the symptoms can help make the diagnosis. Healthy life style can help to control the symptoms. Certain vitamin supplements can be beneficial. Birth control pills may decrease or increase PMS symptoms. In severe cases antidepressants can be used.
PMS can be troublesome and can influence your daily life. But there is enough help available and you should not allow PMS to affect your performance. So make an appointment to see Dr Sangeeta. She can help you to face this routine problem in a holistic way.
Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome
- PMS symptoms are different for every woman and can vary for the same women in different phases of life.
- Some common physical symptoms are bloating, flatus, tender breasts, constipation or diarrhea, cramping headache or backache, and intolerance to sound or light causing a migraine-like headache.
- Common emotional symptoms are mood swings, sadness, crying spells, irritability, sleep disturbances and loss of appetite.
Diagnosis of Premenstrual Syndrome
There is no test for PMS, it’s a clinical diagnosis based on the symptoms and their timing in relation to the periods. They typically happen in the 5 to 10 days before the period and for at least three menstrual cycles in a row and end within four days after the period starts.
PMS may worsen some health problems such as asthma, allergies, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression and anxiety disorders.
Management of Premenstrual Syndrome
- Healthy lifestyle
- Healthy diet and exercise
- Avoiding foods and drinks with caffeine, salt, and sugar in the two weeks before the period.
- Avoid smoking alcohol and drugs
- Adequate sleep
- Yoga, massage, meditation can help.
- OTC medicines such as some analgesics can provide relief from breast pain and cramps.
- Prescription medicines.
- Hormonal birth control pills can help the symptoms.
- Antidepressants can help relieve emotional symptoms and can be used after consultation with mental health professionals.
- Certain vitamins or minerals may help relieve some PMS symptoms. Calcium, Vitamin B6 magnesium has been found to be useful.
- Various herbal supplements have been used with mixed results. The commonest supplement used is Evening primrose oil. The oil is taken from the plant’s seeds and put into capsules.
- There is help available for those not so nice days before the period. Feel free to connect with us for gynecological help.