Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Premenstrual syndrome

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

PMS


Symptoms

PMS refers to a set of physical, behavioral, or emotional symptoms that tend to:

  • Start during the second half of the menstrual cycle (14 days or more after the first day of your last menstrual period)
  • Go away 4 - 7 days after a menstrual period ends (during the first half of the menstrual cycle)

It is important to keep a daily diary or log to record the type of symptoms you have, how severe they are, and how long they last. You should keep this "symptom diary" for at least 3 months. It will help your doctor make an accurate PMS diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment.

The most common physical symptoms include:

  • Abdominal fullness, feeling gaseous
  • Bloating of the abdomen
  • Breast tenderness
  • Clumsiness
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Food cravings
  • Headache
  • Less tolerance for noises and lights

Other symptoms include:

  • Confusion
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Fatigue
  • Feelings of sadness or hopelessness (See also: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder)
  • Feelings of tension, anxiety, or edginess
  • Forgetfulness
  • Irritable, hostile, or aggressive behavior, with outbursts of anger toward self or others
  • Loss of sex drive (may be increased in some women)
  • Mood swings
  • Poor judgment
  • Poor self-image, feelings of guilt, or increased fears
  • Sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)
  • Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement

Signs and tests

There are no physical examination findings or lab tests specific to the diagnosis of PMS. To rule out other potential causes of symptoms, it is important to have a:

  • Complete medical history
  • Physical examination (including pelvic exam)
  • Psychiatric evaluation (in some cases)

A symptom calendar can help women identify the most troublesome symptoms and confirm the diagnosis of PMS.


Review Date: 06/16/2010
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)