What is premenstrual syndrome (pms)?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of physical or mood-related symptoms that occur before your menstrual period each month. Symptoms begin about 1 to 2 weeks before your period starts and go away in the first few days of your period. It is common to have tender breasts, bloating, and muscle aches a few days before your period. These are normal premenstrual symptoms. But when symptoms interfere with your daily life, they are called PMS.

Premenstrual symptoms occur about 1 to 2 weeks before your period starts. These symptoms go away in the first few days of your period. Many symptoms have been linked to PMS. They may vary greatly from cycle to cycle and be worse during times of more stress.

Common physical symptoms include:

• Bloating, weight gain.
• Fatigue, lack of energy.
• Headaches.
• Cramps, aching muscles and joints, low back pain.
• Breast swelling and tenderness.
• Food cravings, especially for sweet or salty foods.
• Sleeping too much or too little.
• Low sex drive.
• Constipation or diarrhea.

Other symptoms affect mood and behavior. They include:

• A sad or depressed mood.
• Anger, irritability, aggression.
• Anxiety.
• Mood swings.
• Decreased alertness, trouble concentrating.
• Withdrawal from family and friends.

No single test can diagnose PMS. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and do a physical exam. It's important to make sure that your symptoms aren't caused by something else. So it may take more than one visit to diagnose your symptoms.

Your doctor may want you to keep a written record of your symptoms for 2 to 3 months. This is called a menstrual diary. It can help you track when your symptoms start, how bad they are, and how long they last. Your doctor can use this diary to help diagnose PMS.

Thyroid problems sometimes cause symptoms like those of PMS. So you may have a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test to make sure that your thyroid gland is working as it should.

There are ways to reduce your PMS symptoms and their impact on your life. But no single treatment works for everyone. You may have to try several to find the right choices for you.

The first step is to make lifestyle changes. These are things like eating healthy, limiting things that make your symptoms worse (such as caffeine or alcohol), or getting regular exercise.

If you still have moderate to severe symptoms after you try home treatment for two or three cycles, talk to your doctor. You can try other treatment options. These may include taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or hormonal birth control.

• Ask your doctor if you can take anti-inflammatory medicines for body aches and breast tenderness. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
• Limit food and drinks that make your symptoms worse. This may include things like caffeine, alcohol, or salt. Do this while you have PMS or several days before you might have symptoms.
• Eat a variety of healthy foods. This includes vegetables, fruits, milk products, whole grains, and protein.
• Get plenty of exercise every day. Go for a walk or jog, ride your bike, or play sports.
• Talk to your doctor before taking any vitamins, minerals, and herbal or other dietary supplements. Some may help relieve PMS symptoms.