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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

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Summary

  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of specific physical and psychological features.
  • PMS occurs in the last half of a woman's menstrual cycle.
  • Monthly chemical changes may be responsible.
  • The chemical changes may involve sex hormones, neurotransmitters, and opioid peptides.
  • PMS can be mimicked and must be distinguished from other disorders.
  • The most helpful diagnostic tool for PMS is a menstrual diary.
  • Treatment of PMS includes exercise, dietary changes, emotional support of family and friends, and medications.

Description

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of emotional, physical, psychological, and mood disturbances that occur after a woman's ovulation and normally end with the onset of her menstrual flow. The most common mood-related symptoms are irritability, depression, crying, oversensitivity, and mood swings with alternating sadness and anger.

The most common physical symptoms are fatigue, bloating, breast tenderness (mastalgia), acne and appetite changes with food cravings.

PMS is also known as late luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

The mood changes surrounding this condition have been described as early as the time of the ancient Greeks. However, it was not until 1931 that this disorder was officially recognised by the medical community. The term "premenstrual syndrome" was coined in 1953.

Cause

PMS remains an enigma because of the wide-ranging symptoms and the difficulty in making a firm diagnosis. Several theories have been advanced to explain the cause of PMS. None of these theories has been proven and specific treatment for PMS still largely lacks a solid scientific basis.

Among the reigning theories are those relating to alterations in the levels of sex hormones, brain chemicals, and opioid peptides:

  • Sex hormones: PMS has been thought (since the 1930's) to be due to decreased production of sex hormones by the ovaries after ovulation has taken place (in midcycle, or days 7-10 into the menstrual cycle). To date, this theory is still unproven.
  • Neurotransmitters: Alterations in sex hormone levels at around the time of ovulation have also been thought to cause PMS. The changes in sex hormone levels affect certain brain chemicals which, in turn, bring about the mood changes of PMS. Serotonin and tryptophan, which function as neurotransmitters in the brain, have been shown to create PMS-like symptoms experimentally. These two chemicals have profound effects on mood and emotion.
  • Opioid peptides: These are substances possessing some properties of opiate narcotics but are not derived from opium. They are also brain chemicals known to affect mood. The concentration of these compounds in the brain tissue can fluctuate in response to the hormones produced by the ovaries.

Because of genetic differences, some women can be more susceptible to these chemical changes in the brain and suffer more severe symptoms than others.

Symptoms

Women can have PMS of varying duration and severity from cycle to cycle. The most frequent mood-related symptoms of PMS include anger and irritability, anxiety, tension, depression, crying, oversensitivity, and exaggerated mood swings.

The most frequent physical signs and symptoms of PMS include fatigue, bloating (due to fluid retention), weight gain, breast tenderness, acne, sleep disturbances with sleeping too much or too little (insomnia), and appetite changes with overeating or food cravings (the “I-can't-believe-I-ate-a-whole-container-of-ice-cream“ syndrome).

Some examples of conditions that can mimic PMS include depression, cyclic water retention (idiopathic oedema), chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome.

Prevalence

About 80% of women experience some features of PMS. Fortunately, only a minority (estimated at 10%) of women have severe enough PMS symptoms to impact their work, relationships or lifestyle in a significant way.

Diagnosis

The hallmark of the diagnosis of PMS is that symptom-free interval after the menstrual flow and prior to the next ovulation. If there is no such interval and the symptoms persist throughout the cycle, then PMS may not be the proper diagnosis. PMS can still be present and aggravate symptoms related to the other conditions, but it cannot be the sole cause of constant or non-cyclic symptoms.

Another way to help make the diagnosis of PMS is to prescribe drugs that stop all ovarian function. If these medications produce relief of the troublesome symptoms, then PMS is most likely the right diagnosis.

The most helpful diagnostic tool is the menstrual diary, which documents physical and emotional symptoms over months. If the changes occur consistently around ovulation (midcycle, or days 7-10 into the menstrual cycle) and last until the menstrual flow begins, then PMS is probably the accurate diagnosis.

Keeping a menstrual diary not only helps the healthcare provider to make the diagnosis, it also promotes a better understanding by the patient of her own body and moods. Once the diagnosis of PMS is made and understood, the patient can better cope with the symptoms.

The diagnosis of PMS can be difficult to make. Other medical and psychological conditions can mimic or worsen symptoms of PMS. There are no laboratory tests to determine if a woman has PMS. When laboratory tests are performed, they are used to exclude other conditions that can mimic PMS.

Treatment

The treatment of PMS can sometimes be as challenging as making the diagnosis of PMS. Various treatment approaches have been used to treat this condition. Some measures lack a solid scientific basis but seem to help some women. Other treatments with a sound scientific basis may not help all patients.

General measures include dietary changes, exercise, and emotional support from family and friends during the time of a woman's cycle. Avoidance of salt before the menstrual period, reduction of caffeine intake, elimination of smoking, alcohol and refined sugars have all been recommended and may help symptoms. Other dietary alterations that have been recommended include restricting the intake of animal fats, dairy products and calcium.

Women have been encouraged to increase their intake of complex carbohydrates (for example, pasta and rice), magnesium and zinc (minerals), vitamins A, E, and B6. While doses of vitamin B6 of 50mg once or twice daily can help relieve symptoms of PMS, excessive use of vitamin B6 is discouraged, since it can cause nervous system symptoms including tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, and even permanent nerve damage.

A variety of medications are used to treat the different symptoms of PMS. Medications include diuretics, pain killers, oral contraceptive pills, drugs that suppress ovarian function, and antidepressants.

  • Diuretics: Diuretics are medications that increase the rate of urine production, thereby eliminating excess fluid from the body tissues. Although there are several nonprescription diuretics, the decision whether diuretics are advisable should be left to the medical practitioner, since there are side-effects with their longterm use. Spironolactone (such as Aldactone) is a prescription diuretic that has been widely used to treat weight gain due to water retentions and premenstrual swelling of the hands, feet or face. Unfortunately, it has not been effective in all patients.
  • Analgesics (pain killers): These are commonly given for menstrual cramps, headaches, and pelvic discomfort. The most effective group of analgesics appear to be the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of these are ibuprofen (such as Brufen® or Nurofen®), naproxen (such as Naprosyn®) and mefenamic acid (such as Ponstan®).
  • Oral contraceptives (OCs): These pills are sometimes prescribed to even out ovarian hormone fluctuations. While approximately 25% of women taking OCs find improvement, 50% find no change, and the remainder may even experience aggravation of symptoms. The newer birth control pills, with their improved hormonal formulations, may prove to be more beneficial than older ones.
  • Ovarian suppressors: Drugs like danazol have been prescribed to suppress ovarian hormone production. Unfortunately, danazol cannot be used over long periods because of side-effects.
  • Complete suppression of ovarian function by a group of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues has recently been found to help some women with PMS. These GnRH analogues are not given long term (more than 6 months) because of their adverse effect on bone density and an increased risk of bone thinning (osteoporosis).
  • Antidepressants: These are widely used in treating the mood disturbances related to PMS. Antidepressants appear to work by increasing brain chemical (opioids, serotonin and others)levels that are affected by the ovarian hormones. These opioids are important in the control of mood and emotions. Fluoxetine (such as Prozac®) and paroxetine (such as Aropax®) are examples of antidepressant medications that have been found to be effective in treating the mood changes associated with PMS.

It is important to know that these drugs, although useful in treating mood disturbances in some women, are not necessarily effective in treating the physical symptoms. Often, it is a combination of diet, medications and exercise that is needed to afford the maximum improvement from the many symptoms of PMS.

Exercise can help relieve some of the symptoms of PMS. Physical activity improves general health and helps relieve nervous tension and anxiety. Exercise is believed to release endorphins. Endorphins contribute to euphoric feelings such as the "runner's high" experienced after prolonged exercise. They are a group of neurotransmitters affecting mood, perception of pain, memory retention and learning.

Aerobic exercise for 30 minutes should be done three to five times a week. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and improves overall fitness by increasing the body's ability to use oxygen. Swimming, walking, and dancing are "low-impact" aerobic activities. They avoid the muscle and joint pounding of more "high-impact" exercises like jogging and jumping rope. Benefits include cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, weight control or reduction, decrease in fluid retention and increase in self-esteem.

Widespread recognition of PMS has attracted a broad range of research interest in the treatment and management of the diverse symptoms of PMS. Although there is no "cure" for PMS at this time, there are many options in managing its signs and symptoms. The first priority is an accurate diagnosis. Other medical or psychological conditions should be identified and treated. Proper diet, exercise and life style changes can help symptoms before resorting to over-the-counter or prescription medications. Most women can control their PMS symptoms successfully so that they do not interfere with their leading healthy and productive lives.

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