Information About Premenstrual Syndrome In Detail. Here, you will get to know what is premenstrual syndrome, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, how to diagnose premenstrual syndrome, treatment for premenstrual syndrome, & medications to relieve premenstrual syndrome. Fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and weight gain. Every month, before the onset of menstruation, millions of women suffer from problems related to premenstrual syndrome. Although these symptoms are not serious, but are very unpleasant and irritating.
Information About Premenstrual Syndrome In Detail
What Is Premenstrual Syndrome?
We hear about it more and more often, and yet, premenstrual syndrome is still one of those ailments that impact women’s lives and seem “normal” to many. “PMS, or premenstrual syndrome (i.e. before menstruation) , is a set of symptoms that occur in the second part of the cycle. They begin at the earliest at the time of ovulation and stop at the start of menstruation”.
And if they are a priori not serious, these symptoms are nevertheless unpleasant and irritating. Especially, when you know that they will be there every month until menopause. According to studies, the premenstrual syndrome affects between 40 to 75% of women. The decrease in sex hormones in the blood after ovulation probably plays a role. Possible decreases in serotonin, magnesium and calcium levels could cause PMS.
What Are The Symptoms Of Premenstrual Syndrome?
They are eclectic and very numerous. More than 150 symptoms, physical or psychological, have been identified in premenstrual syndrome. Among them, certain manifestations recur more often in women suffering from PMS, cycle after cycle, like:
-Nervousness or mood swings.
-Sadness.
-Severe fatigue.
-Migraine.
-Lower back pain.
-Digestive problems.
-Abdominal pain and cramps.
-Feeling of tight breasts.
These symptoms would impact at various levels. The majority of women can persist before each phase of menstruation until menopause. Another 20% to 30% of women have symptoms severe enough to interfere with their daily activities. PMS constitutes a real handicap in about 5% of cases when it is associated with symptoms similar to those of major depression known as a premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. It is a severe form of PMS, including depressed mood, so much so that it is sometimes mistaken for depression.
A study published in August 2022 in the journal Women’s mental health gathered responses to the Flo Health app from 238,114 women aged 18 to 55 in 140 countries. The most frequently reported symptoms are food cravings (for 85% of women surveyed), followed by mood swings or anxiety (for 64% combined) and fatigue (for 57%). The intensity of these symptoms can vary from cycle to cycle and from woman to woman. Some support it very well, while others suffer greatly, being then forced to put their personal and professional activities on hold.
How To Diagnose Premenstrual Syndrome?
Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome is not an easy task as the symptoms can be so diverse. Especially for certain situations such as premenopause and depression can be confused with premenstrual syndrome. But one organization, the International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD) attempted a possible clarification:
Thus, it has been established that to make a diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome, several criteria must be taken into account:
-Symptoms must have occurred in the majority of menstrual cycles in the past year.
-Symptoms, pains, and disorders must be completely absent for at least 1 week per month, thus highlighting a mechanism by phase.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome:
There is no real treatment to eliminate this premenstrual syndrome. Keeping a healthy lifestyle can help to live it better and relieve it. Alternative medicine such as homoeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, or mesotherapy can be used.
Sleeping well, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and changing a few daily habits can make a big difference. Keep as much as possible stress at bay. To alleviate stress do yoga, meditation, running, or any other physical training. Certain plants and essential oils (Roman chamomile, neroli, etc.) are known for their calming effect. Also limit processed foods, excess meat, and refined sugars as much as possible. An unbalanced diet will negatively impact the hormonal balance. Lowering your salt intake, especially during this period, helps limit water retention. Caffeine and alcohol should also be reduced. As for sleep, taking recuperative nights allows you to live better with PMS.
When To Consult Doctor In PMS:
Although it affects a large majority of women, PMS is not a necessary evil to accept during your cycle, because you are a woman. As soon as you suffer, you have to consult a health professional.
Talking about it with your doctor will allow you to find solutions because these disorders are not inevitable. They will also make sure that the symptoms are not caused by another disease. The diagnosis of the premenstrual syndrome will be made simply, by listening to the patient’s symptoms.
Medications To Relieve Premenstrual Syndrome:
There is no miracle drug to treat premenstrual syndrome. The treatment will be the one that will relieve the most painful symptoms. When a healthy lifestyle is not enough to feel better:
-Analgesic drugs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to reduce pain.
-Anxiolytics can be given to reduce anxiety and mood disorders.
-Diuretics help target water retention.
-Hormones may sometimes be prescribed.
-Taking food supplements, rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6, can be recommended.
It is true that there is no specific treatment for premenstrual syndrome. But there are many solutions to relieve ailments, physical and mental that occur before the onset of menstruation.
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