PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is a collection of physical and emotional complaints in the week to ten days before your period. An estimated up to 3 in 4 women recognise a mild form of it, and in some the complaints are strong enough to affect daily life. Once the period begins, the complaints usually fade quickly.
I notice that many women dismiss their PMS complaints for a long time as something that just comes with it. Sometimes that is true, but if you are not yourself for a few days every month, you are allowed to take that seriously.
Below you read which complaints fit PMS, what the cause seems to be, what can help and when looking further is useful.
What are the symptoms of PMS?
PMS complaints are partly physical and partly emotional, and return in the second half of your cycle. Think of a bloated feeling, tender breasts, irritability and mood swings. The hallmark is the timing: the complaints come before the period and disappear afterwards.
Complaints that often fit PMS:
- Irritability, low mood or mood swings
- A bloated feeling or fluid retention
- Tender or tense breasts
- Headache, fatigue or poor sleep
- Cravings for sweet or salty food
The pattern matters more than a single complaint. If the complaints come at about the same point each month and fade with your period, that fits PMS.
What causes PMS?
The exact cause of PMS is not fully known, but sensitivity to the normal swings of oestrogen and progesterone seems to play a large role. So it is not so much about an abnormal hormone value, but about how your body and brain respond to the fluctuations.
After ovulation progesterone rises and then falls again towards your period. In sensitive women that fall in particular seems to be linked to the complaints. That explains why PMS is felt mainly in the second half of the cycle.
Want to better understand how these hormones move through your cycle? Then read understanding your menstrual cycle and hormones.
What helps against PMS complaints?
There is no single pill that solves PMS for everyone, but various lifestyle steps can ease the complaints. Regular exercise, enough sleep and attention to stress come back in many recommendations. What works for you differs per person.
Steps that guidelines suggest can help:
- Regular exercise, including gentle movement like walking
- Enough and regular sleep
- Attention to stress, for example with breathing or relaxation
- Keeping a diary to map your pattern
Some women benefit from additional treatment, for example through the GP. If the complaints keep a grip on your daily life, discuss that, because there are more options than many women think.
PMS, your hormones and a blood test
A blood test does not establish PMS, because you recognise PMS by the pattern, not by one abnormal value. A hormone test can help to rule out other causes if your complaints are heavier or different than you expect.
Think of a slow thyroid or a disrupted cycle that resembles PMS. The Hormones Women panel measures oestradiol and progesterone among others, together with other hormones that steer your cycle.
Does your picture not fit an irregular cycle but you are unsure of the cause? Then read our pillar on irregular periods and which hormones to test.
When is it more than PMS?
PMS is unpleasant but usually bearable. If the complaints are so strong every month that your relationships, work or daily functioning suffer, it may be PMDD, a more severe form. That is a reason to seek help.
Watch for these signals:
- Strong low mood, anxiety or irritability that disrupts your life
- Complaints that return every cycle and clearly fade after your period
- The feeling that you are not yourself for a few days a month
Do you recognise this? Then read our article on recognising PMDD: more than ordinary PMS and discuss your complaints with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have PMS?
The hallmark of PMS is the timing: complaints in the second half of your cycle that fade as soon as your period begins. Keeping a diary of your complaints for a few months often makes this pattern clear.
Can I test for PMS with blood?
Not directly. You recognise PMS by the pattern, not by one hormone value. A blood test can help to rule out other causes if your complaints are heavy or unusual.
Does food help against PMS?
Regular meals and attention to your whole lifestyle can ease complaints, though the effect differs per person. There is no single food that solves PMS for everyone. Track your pattern to see what works for you.
References
- NHG. NHG-Standaard Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Dutch College of General Practitioners. Available via richtlijnen.nhg.org.
- Thuisarts.nl. I have PMS (complaints before my period). Dutch College of General Practitioners. Available via thuisarts.nl.
- NHG. NHG-Standaard Vaginaal bloedverlies. Dutch College of General Practitioners. Available via richtlijnen.nhg.org.
Every blood test result through Lunara includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
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