PMS: Symptoms and Treatment

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a variety of symptoms that women experience in the second half of a menstrual cycle, before a new cycle begins. Symptoms vary among women and range from physical, such as bloating and pain, to mental, such as mood swings, anxiety and difficulty focusing.

More than 75 percent of women may experience PMS at some point during their reproductive years, with symptoms peaking in a woman's late 20s and early 30s, according to the Mayo Clinic. For most women, PMS typically occurs five to 11 days before a new menstrual cycle begins.

The cause of PMS is not clear, but research points to hormonal fluctuations as the culprit.

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The syndrome occurs more often in women who have given birth to at least one child, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Having had depression or bipolar disorder, or having a family member with these disorders, may put a woman at higher risk for experiencing severe PMS.

Symptoms

Most women who experience PMS don't have all of the possible symptoms. Moreover, individual symptoms can range from mild to severe.

According to the NIH and the Mayo Clinic, the physical and mental symptoms include but are not limited to:

Physical symptoms

• Feeling bloated or gassy
• Clumsiness
• Joint or muscle pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Food cravings
• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue
• Weight gain related to fluid retention
• Acne flare-ups
• Headache
• Low tolerance for lights and noise

Mental symptoms

• Depressed mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Social withdrawal
• Trouble falling asleep
• Crying spells
• Forgetfulness
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Change in sex drive
• Feeling irritable
• Poor self-image

Diagnosis & tests

There are no specific signs or lab tests that can diagnose PMS, the NIH says. Keeping a diary to record symptoms can help find repeating patterns and the most troubling symptoms. This will also help a doctor make a diagnosis.

Those who choose to see a doctor may undergo a physical examination, including a pelvic exam, and be asked to describe their symptoms in detail. Many doctors will recommend keeping a diary of symptoms that spans at least three months, noting the days PMS symptoms and periods begin and end.

Treatment options for PMS

A healthy lifestyle is the first step to managing PMS, and for many women, this is enough to control symptoms, according to the NIH. Recommended lifestyle approaches include:

• Avoiding excess salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol
• Drinking plenty of fluids to reduce bloating
• Eating small, frequent meals
• Choosing calcium-rich foods
• Engaging in at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day
• Sleeping at least eight hours nightly
• Practicing yoga or deep-breathing exercises to relieve stress

Studies have suggested that including enough iron, zinc and fatty acids in the diet can help diminish symptoms.

Regular aerobic exercise throughout the month may also help reduce the severity of some PMS symptoms, studies have found. For example, in one study published Oct. 3, 2014, in the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers randomly assigned 30 women with PMS into two groups: A control group received vitamin B6 and calcium supplements, and a study group received the same supplements but additionally participated in treadmill training three times per week for three months. The results showed that women who exercised experienced changes in their hormones' levels, resulting in improvement of their fatigue, impaired concentration, confusion and most premenstrual symptoms, the researchers said.

Certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs can help relieve some physical symptoms of PMS, with varying success. According to the Mayo Clinic, these medications include:

• Diuretics: Also known as water pills, diuretics can alleviate bloat by helping the body shed excess water. These include spironolactone (known by the brand name Aldactone).
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Cramps, headaches and breast tenderness can be eased with these over-the-counter drugs, which include ibuprofen (commonly known as Advil or Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).
• Oral contraceptives: By stabilizing hormone fluctuations, birth control pills may prevent PMS symptoms.

Major medical institutions dispute the effectiveness of various dietary supplements in treating PMS. But a consensus favors taking about 1,000 mg of calcium each day in the form of chewable calcium carbonate to ease bloating, cramps or back pain. Regardless of its effect on PMS, calcium use lowers the risk of osteoporosis, the Mayo Clinic says.

Treatment options for severe PMS and PMDD

Some women have severe PMS that is not managed by lifestyle approaches. These women may experience severe depression symptoms, irritability, panic attacks and tension, and their condition is sometimes referred to as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The condition affects 3 percent to 8 percent of women, according to the NIH.

Symptoms of PMS or PMDD may appear similar to bipolar disorder, a condition in which people experience waves of up or down mood. Because of this similarity, some women with PMS or PMDD may be incorrectly diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and receive inappropriate treatment, according to an article in the journal Climacteric.

There are some medications available to treat some symptoms of women with PMDD. In some cases, women who experience depression may be treated with antidepressants known as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), according to the NIH. A 2013 review of available evidence concluded that SSRIs are effective in reducing the symptoms of PMS, whether taken in just some part of the month or continuously. However, the medication also frequently causes adverse effects, the most common being nausea and weakness, according to the researchers. For women with anxiety problems, anti-anxiety medication is sometimes prescribed.

Nonmedication approaches to treating depression also exist, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), individual counseling, group counseling and stress management, all of which may help relieve symptoms for some women, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services.

The FDA has also approved Yaz (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol), a birth control pill to treat PMDD.

Another treatment option for severe PMS or PMDD is an injection of Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone acetate), which will temporarily stop ovulation. However, Depo-Provera may worsen some other symptoms of PMS, such as increases in appetite, weight gain, headache and depressed mood, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on Live Science.

Additional resources

• Download a fact sheet on PMS from the Office on Women's Health.
• Read a list of lifestyle and home remedies from the Mayo Clinic.
• Download frequently asked questions about Premenstrual syndrome from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.