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Premenstrual Syndrome: Symptom, Treatment, Help for Pms Premenstrual Syndrome, Hormones Premenstrual Syndrome

What is premenstrual syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms that is related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Most women will feel physical or mood changes during the week or two before their actual period. These symptoms usually disappear after your period starts. Premenstrual syndrome can interfere with your normal daily activities. Premenstrual syndrome usually ends once menopause begins.

What are the causes of premenstrual syndrome?

The actual cause of premenstrual syndrome is unclear. They are some women who become more sensitive than others due to the change in hormone levels during their period. There is some evidence to suggest that stress seems to make it the symptoms worse. Premenstrual syndrome can affect women of any age prior to menopause. Premenstrual syndrome can include both physical and emotional symptoms.

There is some link to the chemical changes in the brain might play a role in premenstrual syndrome. Fluctuations of serotonin during this time may play a role in the person’s change in mood; as well as in other symptoms such as fatigue, food cravings and sleep issues.

What are the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome?

The symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are for most women the unwelcome part of their period. They most common physical and emotional symptoms are:

  • Trouble concentrating or remembering things
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Upset stomach, bloating, constipation or diarrhea
  • Breast swelling and tenderness
  • Headaches
  • Appetite changes or food cravings
  • Tension, irritability, mood swings, or crying spells
  • Fluid retention
  • Fatigue

While the litany of symptoms is long most women only experience a few of them.

How can premenstrual syndrome be diagnosed?

There is not a real test done to diagnose premenstrual syndrome. The diagnosis is usually based on your record of when your symptoms occur, what your symptoms are, and how they affect your life. You have to keep track of the day the symptoms begin and the day the end; in order to see if it really relates to the start of your period.

What treatments are available for premenstrual syndrome?

They are many treatments that are available for reducing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. No one treatment is right for every woman, so you may have to try a few to find out what works best for you.

  • Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before or at the onset of your period. These can help to reduce the cramping and breast tenderness.
  • Oral contraceptives are some times prescribed to help stop ovulation and thus will stabilize your hormonal mood swings.
  • Antidepressants have been used to reduce the symptoms such as fatigue, food cravings, and sleep problems. The use of antidepressants can be and in most cases will be limited to the two weeks before the person’s menstrual cycle actually begins.
  • Depo-Provera- This is used in severe cases; it is an injection that can be administered to stop the individual from ovulating.
  • Make sure that you get enough vitamins and minerals. You need to take a multi vitamin every day that includes four hundred micrograms of folic acid, and a calcium supplement along with Vitamin D.
  • Avoid excess salt, sugary foods, caffeine, and alcohol during this time.
  • Try and exercise regularly, get enough sleep and eat healthy foods.
  • You should not smoke, and try and find ways to limit the amount of stress in your life.

While premenstrual syndrome can limit a woman’s normal daily activities, some women have found that a combination of lifestyle changes and other treatments working together can offer them some relief and better control of their premenstrual symptoms.

What others have contributed to this page?

I don't know if I should go to the doctor or not but, I am almost 13 and I have had every single symptomn for premensurational syndrome and I waited for a couple weeks and nothing is there. I haven't had my first mensuration cycle yet but as per what my mom said it was supposed to start in the first couple days of September 2006. Its January and there's still nothing, but I still get the symptomns. - Megan - 2007-01-23

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