PMS – Premenstrual Syndrome



I.	The Phases of the Menstrual Cycle


II.	About Your Period


III.	Symptoms Related to Your Cycle


>	PMS - Premenstrual Syndrome
>	PMDD - Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder


IV.	Managing Your Cycle


V.	Contraception and Your Cycle


VI.	Glossary

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PMS -
Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) >n. The cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with some aspects of life. These symptoms occur consistently and predictably with each menstrual cycle.

Understanding PMS

You may have found yourself using PMS as an explanation for irritability and physical symptoms, such as cramps, that you might experience around the time of your period. But while PMS affects millions of women during their reproductive years, not every woman has PMS.^{15. Dickerson, p. 1743 A}

Health care professionals define PMS as the cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with some aspects of life. These symptoms occur consistently and predictably with each menstrual cycle.^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} As a woman gets older, her risk of developing PMS may increase.^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 1 B} Up to 85% of menstruating women report having one or more premenstrual symptoms.^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 1 C}

All in all, there have been more than 200 symptoms associated with PMS!^{15. Dickerson, p. 1743 B} Although there are variations in the requirements for diagnosing PMS, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has recommended both a physical history and a daily diary of symptoms be used together to make an accurate diagnosis.^{16. Committee on Gynecolgic Practice, PMS. p 83} According to ACOG, PMS occurs when there is at least one symptom in each of the following categories, present during the five days before menstruation in the past three menstrual cycles, that are severe enough to interfere with daily life: ^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2}

Emotional Symptoms	Physical Symptoms
Depression^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Angry outbursts^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Irritability^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Anxiety^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Confusion^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Social withdrawal^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Mood changes^{18. Speroff, p. 531-532A}	Breast tenderness^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Abdominal bloating^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Headache^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Swelling of the extremities^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, PMS p. 2} Cramps

For a woman to be diagnosed with PMS, she must experience specific symptoms during a specific time of her cycle.

Remember, although a woman may experience one or more symptoms during her menstrual cycle, it does not necessarily mean that she has PMS. In order for a woman to be diagnosed with PMS, she must experience specific symptoms during a specific time of her menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, because hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle are similar for both women who experience PMS and those who don’t, there is no simple laboratory test to diagnose PMS.^{14. ACOG Practice Bulletin, p. 1}

If you have symptoms that interrupt your daily life around the time of your period and recur consistently and predictably every month, you may want to discuss them with your doctor or health care professional. Use the Annual Visit Checklist to help facilitate a discussion.