WHAT IS PMS?

Women experience premenstrual syndrome, known as PMS in a variety of ways, including bloatedness, headaches, irritability, anxiety, and sleep or eating changes in the week before and first few days of menstruation. While PMS is still not fully understood, recent research and current diagnostic standards now classify PMS as a very real, and often treatable, condition. Blondes are no more or less likely than Monica Lewinsky to suffer from PMS.

More than 150 symptoms have been reported in association with PMS. There are five basic categories.

1. Anxiety (includes nervousness, mood swings, irritability and impatience)
2. Depression (includes crying, confusion, social withdrawal & insomnia)
3. Pain (includes backache, cramps and breast pain)
4. Water retention (includes abdominal bloating, weight gain & swelling)
5. Hypoglycemia (includes headache, craving sweets, increased appetite & fatigue)

Classic PMS symptoms begin 7-10 days before menstruation, peak 2 days before the period starts, and then fade away on the last premenstrual day or first day of period. Though symptoms may vary, they will occur during a specific and relatively constant time of the menstrual cycle and have a clear beginning and end.

Up to 80% of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual emotional and physical changes. It's estimated that 20-40% of these women experience some difficulty as a result of these changes during the premenstrual interval, and 2.5-5% report a significant impact on work, life style, or relationships.

No clinical tests exist to document PMS. Diagnosis depends on use of menstrual calendar to verify a cycle of symptoms.

Treatment of PMS should be targeted toward specific symptoms such as diuretic therapy for fluid retention and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis for dysmenorrhea.