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Sexual Health Centre
How Female Bodies Work |
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
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Stress at work or school can make PMS worse.
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Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a poorly defined condition used to describe
symptoms, which occur after ovulation and before a woman's period. They
are usually most intense in the week just before a woman's period when
the levels of estrogen and progesterone are the lowest. Symptoms include:
- abdominal bloating
- irritability
- mood swings
- headache
- weight gain
- fatigue
- food cravings
- tension
- breast swelling
- backache
Many women experience some of
these symptoms.
Some illnesses may become worse during the two weeks before a woman's period.
This is known as 'menstrual magnification.' Illnesses where this occurs
include:
These conditions should be ruled out before a diagnosis of PMS is made. If PMS-like
symptoms occur outside of the two-weeks before your period, you doctor should check for other illnesses.
Treatment
Changes in a woman's diet and lifestyle may help relieve the symptoms of
PMS. Here are some things that research has shown may improve PMS symptoms:
- aerobic exercise
- a complex carbohydrate diet that involves whole grains like brown
flour and rice
- vitamin supplements of calcium, magnesium and/or vitamin E
Other changes in a woman's diet may help, such as eating more fruits and
vegetables or eating less:
- fat
- sugar
- salt
- caffeine
- alcohol
Some women have found herbs such as evening primrose oil or chasteberry helpful.
For women with serious symptoms, particularly mood changes, a group of antidepressant drugs known as SSRIs may be useful.
Birth-control pills are sometimes prescribed to treat PMS to increase hormone
levels. This is for women with primarily physical symptoms. There is little
evidence to support this approach.
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