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PMS

PMS or more correctly WHAT IS PMS

Premenstrual Syndrome is recurrence of symptoms before menstruation with complete absence of symptoms after menstruation.

These symptoms should not be present for more than fourteen day prior to menstruation, as this is the number of days from ovulation until menstruation, and they must be noted for a minimum of two cycles. The complete absence of symptoms after menstruation should be at least seven days. It is this absence of symptoms after menstruation that makes the diagnosis of PMS complete.

Sensations

There are sensations that we feel every day that indicate that a bodily function is about to take place. For example we get a tickling sensation when we are about to sneeze, we feel thirsty when dehydrated, our stomachs rumble when hungry, so it is important to note that these sensations, before menstruation, are not thought of as symptoms otherwise just about every woman would be suffering from PMS.

These warning signs of impending menstruation vary from mild sensations to severe suicidal depression. It is those with symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with their daily life that require treatment. Regarding PMS, no two patients are alike and thus each requires individual treatment.

Symptoms

The duration of PMS also varies enormously, it may be a black depression that lasts fourteen days, to migraines that last a day or two, to an epileptic seizure that may last only a few minutes. Symptoms are always at their worst immediately prior to menstruation as this is the time when progesterone is most required.

Variations

The normal menstrual cycle is considered to be twenty-eight days but this is the average and thus any treatment for PMS must take this into consideration. Some treatments indicate a starting date as day 14 through today 28, but this is of little help to a woman who has a thirty-six day cycle, who is receiving no medication when she needs it most. Thus every dosage regimen is different and must be individualised if success is to be achieved.

It is important to note that PMS can occur in cycle when ovulation does not take place as well as in normal ovulatory cycles. Also, PMS can recur after recovery from the trauma of hysterectomy, with or without removal of both ovaries.