PMS and ovarian cycle syndrome
What is pre-menstrual syndrome?
Almost all mature females will at some time experience unpleasant physical and mental changes at different stages of their menstrual cycle. Often these changes are most obvious in the days immediately before a period and improve dramatically once the period has begun. This is why the term pre-menstrual syndrome is generally used to describe this occurrence. For the same reason many people call the psychological changes pre-menstrual tension (PMT).
However, these changes may be noticed at other times in the month and a more accurate name for the problem is ovarian cycle syndrome. This reflects the fact that there is a continual change in hormone production from the ovaries throughout the whole menstrual cycle.
Today's women might take some heart from the fact that this condition was described as long ago as 500BC by Hippocrates, the Greek physician.
What are the symptoms?
A wide variety of symptoms — physical, psychological and behavioural — may occur. Breast soreness, a general ‘bloated’ feeling, swelling of the ankles, pains in the lower abdomen and clumsiness are all quite common physical symptoms. Psychological effects include sleeping problems, change in appetite and sex drive, irritability, anxiety, tiredness and depression. Among the behavioural changes reported are absence from work, becoming ‘accident-prone’ and, in some cases, criminal behaviour.
How is it treated?
The condition does not occur before puberty, after the menopause, or during pregnancy. That means women who are not ovulating do not experience it. Often the use of hormone tablets which suppress ovulation, such as oral contraceptives, are very helpful.
Other treatments which seem to help many women, although the reasons why are not really understood, include vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil.
Diet can make quite a difference. If sore breasts are a problem, reducing tea and coffee intake, reducing fat and eating complex carbohydrates (e.g. wholegrain cereals) may help. Reducing salt will help with the bloated feeling caused by fluid retention.
Pre-menstrual syndrome causes much distress to many women and their families every month. Although it may not be possible to entirely eliminate these unpleasant sensations, much can often be done to improve them.
Last Reviewed: 12 October 2004
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