What is PMS in women? Causes, symptoms, treatment. Premenstrual syndrome

The menstrual cycle has complex hormonal regulation, its phases follow one another, and in each of them certain sex hormones predominate in a woman’s body. For some women, the second phase of the cycle is accompanied by the appearance of signs of PMS.

The abbreviation PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome and refers to a complex set of symptoms that occur several days before the expected menstruation.

It is manifested by metabolic, endocrine and autonomic nervous system disorders. There are other names for the pathology: “premenstrual tension syndrome” and “premenstrual illness”.

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1. PMS symptoms

Appear 2-10 days before the start of menstruation. They can be observed during both ovulatory and anovulatory cycles. Symptoms disappear with the onset of bleeding, less often after it stops.

There are more than 150 signs that can accompany. The main ones are:

1 Changes in the digestive system: nausea, vomiting, bloating and discomfort in the abdomen, bowel problems (constipation or diarrhea), bulimia, changes in taste, cravings for alcohol or sweets.
2 Pain of various localizations: in the lower back, lower abdomen and pelvic area, head, in the heart area.
3 Breast engorgement, swelling of varying severity in the legs, arms, face, decreased diuresis and fluid retention.
4 Neuropsychiatric disorders: mood swings, tearfulness, aggression, depressed mood, unmotivated fear, isolation, depression, suicidal thoughts.
5 Skin manifestations: increased fat content, sweating, acne, hyperpigmentation.
6 From the musculoskeletal system: joint pain, muscle weakness, lumbodynia, sciatica.
7 Other manifestations: tachycardia, skin itching, dizziness, thirst.

Such symptoms bother 5 to 40% of women, and 10% of them note that PMS disrupts the normal rhythm of life and relationships with others.

Some features of premenstrual syndrome have been noticed. It is more pronounced in young women, although it also occurs after 40-50 years.

In girls, depression of mood and tearfulness are more often observed, in women after 40 years - aggression. Premenstrual symptoms are more typical for women living in large cities who are engaged in mental work and are underweight.

2. Clinical forms

Scientists have tried to combine the variety of manifestations into a single classification of forms of PMS. Currently, the classification proposed by V.P. Smetnik is often used. She divides all manifestations of PMS into 4 forms: neuropsychic, edematous, cephalgic and crisis.

2.1. Neuropsychic

In this form, symptoms of dysfunction of the nervous system predominate - mood swings, aggression, lability, weakness and fatigue. Auditory hallucinations, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive disorders (memory, attention) may occur.

2.2. Edema

A woman experiences swelling of varying severity in her legs and arms. Swelling of the fingers makes it difficult to remove the wedding ring. The mammary glands become enlarged, become painful or sensitive, the volume of the abdomen increases, and the digestion process changes.

Some patients note weight gain, which occurs due to fluid retention (up to 700 ml/day).

Excessive sweating and increased sensitivity to odors are common. Many women with such symptoms turn to therapists and do not analyze the frequency of occurrence of complaints.

2.3. Cephalgic

In women with this form of PMS, headaches, dizziness, increased sensitivity to sounds and smells predominate, and there may be nausea and vomiting. The headache is often throbbing, appears in a certain part of the skull, but is not accompanied by an increase in blood pressure.

Some women notice a rapid heartbeat and increased sweating. Swelling and engorgement of the mammary glands may be observed, while diuresis is positive (the amount of urine excreted is greater than the amount of liquid drunk).

2.4. Krizovaya

Characterized by sympatho-adrenal crises. Blood pressure rises sharply, pressing pain in the chest and palpitations appear. Sometimes the patient notes coldness of the extremities and the appearance of fear of death.

There are no changes on the ECG. Crises occur in the evening or at night, as well as after stress or overwork. After an attack, the woman urinates profusely.

This form of PMS is the result of refusal to treat edematous, cephalgic or neuropsychic forms.

Severity	Lightweight	Average	Heavy
	Mild - with this form, 3-4 symptoms appear 2-10 days before the start of menstruation, but only 1-2 are pronounced.	An intermediate option between light and heavy	The appearance of 5-12 symptoms 3-14 days before menstruation, of which 2 to 5 are significantly expressed.
Stage	Compensation	Subcompensation	Decompensation
Stage	Symptoms appear before menstruation and disappear with its onset; the disease does not progress over the years.	Over time, the number of complaints increases, as does the duration of PMS and its severity.	The course is severe, the symptoms are pronounced. The number and duration of light intervals with relatively good health are minimal.
Impact on daily life	The daily rhythm of life does not change. The quality of life does not suffer.	A woman’s activity in everyday and family life decreases, but her ability to work remains.	Woman loses her ability to work

Table 1 - Severity of premenstrual syndrome

2.5. Atypical forms

Some women experience symptoms that do not fit into the generally accepted classification. Some researchers point to the following manifestations of PMS:

1 Hyperthermia with a regular increase in temperature in the luteal phase to subfebrile levels. There are no signs of inflammation in blood tests, and body temperature returns to normal with the onset of menstruation.
2 Menstrual migraine. It manifests itself as a migraine headache during menstruation.
3 With cyclical allergic reactions (usually in the form of urticaria, less often - Quincke's edema).
4 Ophthalmoplegic form - unilateral drooping of the eyelid in the luteal phase.
5 Hypersomnic – the appearance of lethargic sleep in the second phase of the cycle.
6 Cyclic bronchial asthma.
7 Cyclic gingivitis and stomatitis.

With PMS, these symptoms should recur every cycle for several months. To establish a connection with the cycle, you can keep a diary yourself and note the time when unpleasant sensations appear. This will help organize the information and make it easier for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

3. Theories of origin

Why do some women change cycle phases easily and painlessly, while for others it becomes a real challenge? There is still no consensus on this issue.

The following conditions contribute to the deterioration of well-being:

1 Frequent stress, sedentary lifestyle.
2 Menstrual irregularities and heavy, painful periods.
3 Neuroinfections.
4 Difficult pregnancy and childbirth.
5 Consequences of abortion.
6 Gynecological diseases.
7 Injuries and operations.
8 Chronic diseases.
9 Sexual dissatisfaction.
10 Poor nutrition, consumption of foods low in fiber, vitamins B and D, calcium.

One of the first to put forward the hormonal theory of PMS. Other theories have now been developed:

1 Water intoxication.
2 Allergic.
3 Prolactin.
4 Prostaglandin.
5 Psychosomatic.

The following facts support the hormonal theory of PMS:

1 Signs of pathology first appear with the onset of puberty; this condition is not typical for girls.
2 Unpleasant sensations before menstruation can be observed throughout the entire reproductive period and practically disappear with the onset of menopause.
3 Symptoms do not disappear in women who have had a hysterectomy with preservation of the ovaries.

The hormonal theory is associated with the predominance of estrogen levels over progesterone (relative hyperestrogenism) and their undesirable effects.

The development of water intoxication is associated with a violation of water-salt metabolism in the body. Normally, fluid retention occurs during the luteal phase of the cycle, but if there is an imbalance, this indicator increases even more. The consequence of this is mastodynia - pain and engorgement of the mammary gland.

Headache is also associated with overhydration and increased intracranial pressure. In some patients who are prescribed diuretics, the severity of pain decreases.

4. Diagnostics

In diagnosing PMS, confirmation of the cyclical nature of symptoms is of primary importance. There is no need to use all available examination techniques. Preference is given to those that are suitable for a specific form of pathology.

List of main diagnostic methods:

1 Hormone tests will be indicative for most women with PMS. The level of estrogen (estriol), progesterone, and prolactin is determined in the second phase of the cycle.
2 Assessing the levels of thyroid hormones, cortisol, C-peptide, sex-steroid-binding globulin and glucose tolerance test are of secondary importance.
3 According to indications, ultrasound of the thyroid and mammary glands, ECG, EEG, CT, and MRI are performed.
4 In case of neurological symptoms, a CT or MRI of the brain is necessary to exclude tumor formations. The interpretation of the results obtained is carried out jointly with neurologists.
5 In the neuropsychic form, electroencephalography is desirable, the results of which determine functional disorders in the diencephalolimbic structure of the brain.

5. Treatment methods

It is possible with the help of psychotherapy and lifestyle changes. It is important for women to pay attention to their work and rest schedule.

Following a daily routine and bedtime (optimally no later than 10-11 p.m.) will help you get rid of unpleasant sensations. For those who have night shifts and on duty, it is better to transfer to day work.

It is important to alternate between work and rest during the day. Regular physical education and morning exercises are advisable; for some, a daily walk in the evening is enough.

Working with a psychologist is combined with keeping a special diary, which reflects all the symptoms that precede the onset of menstruation.

It is also useful to make a graph of basal temperature, which will allow you to notice the onset, as well as determine how many days before the start of menstruation the first signs of PMS appear.

Pregnancy can be one of the ways to treat PMS. Some women, with a delay, note the disappearance of unpleasant sensations.

5.1. Balanced diet

You definitely need to reconsider your diet. It is necessary to create a menu based on the principles of a healthy lifestyle, with a limit on simple carbohydrates, caffeine, salt, alcohol, and trans fats.

Recommendations for limiting “harmful products” are more relevant for the second phase of the cycle. But on other days you should not abuse them. Additional enrichment of food with fiber, vitamins, minerals and trace elements is necessary. In most cases, it is recommended to take special multivitamin complexes.

Several studies have shown that taking vitamin D and calcium supplements can reduce the severity of migraines, mood swings and other symptoms. The effectiveness of additional intake of magnesium and B vitamins (especially B1, B2 and B6) is being studied. The duration of their use should not be less than 3-4 months.

The calorie content of the diet is maintained on average at 1200-1500 kcal; a more accurate calculation is made based on age, body weight and height.

5.2. Drugs

Drug treatment involves the prescription of hormonal drugs. The following groups of drugs can be used:

1 (for example, Angelique, Jess plus, Yarina plus, Dimia, Janine, Chloe, Diane-35, Logest, etc.). Their effectiveness has been proven in studies; the selection of the drug is carried out only by the attending physician. He will also tell you how much pills you need to take and what to do if side effects occur.
2 Dopamine receptor agonists (Bromocriptine, Dostinex).
3 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (Buserelin, Diferelin) are used to treat severe forms. They can cause depression and insomnia, so they are not recommended for long-term use.
4 Gestagens (Duphaston, Mirena). This group is still sometimes prescribed in medical practice, although data on their effectiveness for PMS is contradictory. The theory of progesterone deficiency in the second phase of the cycle is already considered outdated abroad, since the influence of prolactin and prostaglandins has been proven.

To improve metabolism and the functional state of the central nervous system, Phezam, Lucetam, Vinpocetine, Magne B6 are used. For dysphoria, a psychotherapist may prescribe mild sedatives and antidepressants.

Normalize blood rheology, improve blood supply to tissues Pentoxifylline, Troxerutin, Nicergoline. Diuretics are prescribed for severe edema.

Herbs that have a sedative effect are used as auxiliary agents: valerian extract, motherwort tincture.

Folk remedies for severe PMS may not be effective. Physiotherapy methods have a good effect.

Any attempts to cope with PMS must be combined with the right attitude, a change in perception of the disease and the world around you. For men, the condition in which a woman is may be incomprehensible. It is important that the spouse or sexual partner understands that the reasons for the changed behavior are hormonal fluctuations, and not a whim or whim.

PMS is a very common syndrome among women and girls, and often its manifestations affect not only its owners, but also their close circle. Some believe that by explaining their unsightly behavior with this syndrome, representatives of the fair sex are simply looking for an excuse for their bad temper, but in reality this, of course, is not the case. You can find out how to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of PMS in this article.

What is PMS in girls (women)

How does PMS stand for?

The abbreviation PMS has a fairly simple definition - we are talking about premenstrual syndrome. This phenomenon is characterized by a set of symptoms that manifests itself in a girl shortly before the onset of menstruation. Of course, we are not talking about a separate disease, but approximately half of women feel some changes in their bodies during this period.

What does PMS mean?

As already mentioned, PMS is characterized by several manifestations, and now we will look at them in more detail.

Anger and irritability for no particular reason. Frequent mood swings - from complete depression to aggression. Anxiety that has no basis. Loss of interest in usual daily activities. Increased fatigue. Problems with sleep (can be expressed by drowsiness or insomnia). Headache pain, swelling, abdominal pain. Increased appetite. Exacerbation of infectious processes and allergic reactions of the body. If you observe at least half of these symptoms shortly before the onset of your period, then we can say that you are dealing with PMS.

At what age does PMS begin?

Since PMS is a phenomenon that occurs shortly before menstruation, it can be diagnosed in a girl already from her first menstruation. Although, of course, each organism is individual, and if you did not observe any signs of this syndrome in your early youth, then it is quite possible that they will appear in adulthood. However, it is worth noting that most often women between the ages of 20 and 40 experience concern about this.

How many days before your period does PMS start?

The onset of PMS varies individually for each woman. Mostly its symptoms begin to appear 2-3 days before the menstruation period begins. However, it is worth noting that some girls are much less “lucky” - they begin to feel irritability, anger and other symptoms much earlier - about a week or even ten days before their period arrives. However, the number of days may vary each time.

How many days does PMS last in women?

Even if your PMS began a week before menstruation or even ten days, it is not at all necessary that its syndromes will manifest themselves throughout this period. Just a couple of days before your period, aggression, apathy, anxiety and other “charms” of PMS may stop. At the same time, of course, there are also frequent cases when the syndrome lasts until menstruation.

How to tell if you have PMS

Mood swings One of the first signs of the onset of PMS is sudden mood swings. In such cases, a woman may suddenly feel anxious and depressed against the background of general well-being. She can also be thrown off balance and brought to an aggressive state by some completely insignificant troubles, to which at other times she most likely would not have paid much attention. Of course, such mood swings often affect not only the woman experiencing PMS, but also the people who happened to come into contact with her during this period. Physiological changes in the body The onset of PMS is most often characterized by changes not only in the psychological state of a woman, but also by some physiological changes. Let's take a closer look at some forms of the syndrome

This form is characterized by high blood pressure, pressing pain in the chest area, and rapid heartbeat. There is also very high anxiety. Symptoms usually appear at night, when the autonomic nervous system is particularly active. Women suffering from this form of PMS may periodically feel body tremors throughout the night during this period. As a rule, in the morning the described symptoms stop.

What to do when you have PMS

Advice from a gynecologist

Psychologist's advice

How to explain to a man or boyfriend what PMS is

Today we will talk about such a common syndrome among women and young girls as PMS. We also advise your man to read this article so that he has an idea about this condition and treats you more gently during this period.

What is PMS and how does it stand for?

PMS is translated as “premenstrual syndrome” - it is a syndrome (that is, a set of symptoms, not a separate disease) that occurs in women before menstruation. Typically, this syndrome worries about 50% of women to varying degrees of severity of symptoms, and occurs 3-5-7 days before the onset of menstruation.

Does PMS occur in men?
No, it doesn’t happen in principle. Because a man does not have female sex hormones, there are no menstruation, which means there is no premenstrual syndrome. And when men jokingly say “I have PMS,” it’s just a joke.

Classification and symptoms of PMS

Premenstrual syndrome has the following forms and manifestations:

1) neuropsychic form. The symptoms of this form are as follows: a few days before the start of menstruation, a woman becomes more irritable and aggressive, at the same time her mood can change quickly - after irritation or even euphoria, depression and tearfulness can quickly set in. Moreover, in young girls low mood and a tendency to depressive thoughts may predominate, and in adult women after 35 years - euphoria, aggressiveness and irritability.

2) cephalgic form of PMS, that is, a form whose symptoms are dominated by headaches. Such women have frequent headaches during the premenstrual period, and the general blood pressure in the arm may be quite normal. Along with headaches, such women may be bothered by numbness in their hands, especially at night, and excessive sweating, as well as stabbing pain in the heart.

3) the edematous form occurs more often in young girls. Symptoms are swollen, swollen and painful breasts and their surrounding areas, some swelling of the face, feet and hands. Breast swelling during PMS is caused by the reaction of the glandular tissue of the breast to hormonal changes occurring in a woman’s body during the second phase of the menstrual cycle. Excessive sweating is also observed during this nature. Sometimes there is pain in the sacral spine, in the lower abdomen, which occurs a day or two before the start of menstruation and continues for one or two days after their start.

4) crisis form of PMS. Symptoms of this form: high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, pressing and squeezing pain in the heart, often fear of death. Typically, such symptoms bother women at night, when the activity of the autonomic nervous system is high. Often at night, some women shake directly - they experience trembling throughout their whole body, and this trembling can increase, then decrease, increase again, then decrease again. And so on throughout the night. By morning, these symptoms disappear, and the woman may experience increased urination.

5) an atypical form of PMS. Traits of a given form may include variations from various other forms. Also, with an atypical form, there may be an increase in body temperature to 37.2 - 38 degrees for no apparent reason (that is, when there are no colds or infections). In this case, the temperature usually rises before the onset of menstruation, and with its onset it begins to decrease.

The PMS classification also includes:

Compensated form. In this case, the symptoms begin 3-5 days before the onset of menstruation and disappear with their onset. That is, such a clinic usually lasts 5-7 days out of the entire month.

Decompensated form. In this case, the symptoms begin long before the start of menstruation - 5-7-10 days and also end 5-7-10 days after the end of menstruation. This syndrome lasts for 15-21 days, and in severe cases – throughout the entire month, with varying intensity of manifestations.

There are also degrees of severity:

Mild degree. All manifestations are insignificant and practically do not interfere with a woman’s lifestyle. Treatment with pills and medications is not required - only prevention and normalization of lifestyle.

Average. A woman notices the appearance of signs of the syndrome, takes pills or eliminates the causes, and all symptoms quickly disappear.

Severe degree. In this case, the symptoms are very pronounced, as noted by both the woman suffering from them and those around her. Attacks are frequent and difficult to respond to medication. A severe degree usually accompanies a decompensated form of PMS.

Causes of PMS

Why does PMS occur? And why does it not occur in all women?
The main cause of premenstrual syndrome is a woman’s hormonal imbalance. Throughout the entire menstrual cycle, either estrogens or progesterones predominate in a woman’s body. Some disturbances in their production lead to the appearance of these symptoms.
The most common causes and provoking factors leading to the appearance of PMS symptoms in women are:

Sedentary lifestyle and intellectual work, intellectual fatigue,
- excessive physical work, physical fatigue,
- excess body weight or, conversely, lack of it,
- stress,
- urban environment,
- abortion,
- miscarriage,
- inability to get pregnant,
- frequent pregnancies,
- gynecological diseases and operations,
- rare or frequent sex,
- taking contraceptives,
- endocrine disorders, including thyroid diseases,
- infectious diseases of various localizations,
- abuse of eating sweets, chocolate, spicy foods,
- traumatic brain injuries,
- bad habits - alcohol, drugs, smoking. By the way, smoking itself causes vasoconstriction and the release of hormones, which can disrupt a girl’s hormonal levels. And beer contains phytoestrogens, that is, female sex hormones of plant origin, which in the body can also shift hormonal levels and lead to painful manifestations.
It should be noted that women living in rural areas have a much lower frequency of PMS. And in remote tribes of Africa, Asia and other hard-to-reach places, such syndromes in women are generally rare. This is due to the fact that the hormonal levels in such women are stable and not subject to sharp fluctuations.

Diagnosis of PMS

Diagnosing PMS is the prerogative of gynecologists. However, symptoms characteristic of this syndrome can occur in many diseases. Therefore, first of all, we need to exclude them: exclude diseases of the nervous system, mental illness, heart disease, blood pressure, colds, etc.
A distinctive feature of PMS is the clear connection of this syndrome with menstruation, that is, the cyclical manifestations of this syndrome. Often, gynecologists can make the correct diagnosis based on the cyclical nature of these symptoms alone. And if the diagnosis is correct, the treatment will be effective.
Be sure to keep a self-control diary!
One type of self-diagnosis of PMS can be called self-monitoring. A woman should keep a self-control diary, where she writes down all the symptoms that occur to her over the course of two to three months, or even six months. Every day of the menstrual cycle in the evening, she writes down in this diary everything that happened to her during the day - notes her blood pressure, temperature, what symptoms bothered her (headache, stomach ache, chest pain, numbness, palpitations, sweating, etc.), including the night preceding that day.
And then, after some time, he shows this diary to his doctor. Based on such records, it is quite enough to make a diagnosis of PMS, since the days when there were signs are clearly visible, and the days when these signs were not present at all are visible. And such days were repeated every month.
By the way, when carrying out treatment, such self-monitoring is also mandatory - through it you can monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.

What do I have - pregnancy or PMS?

Sometimes a similar clinic appears in the initial period of pregnancy: irritability, tearfulness can be replaced by periods of euphoria, and vice versa. In this case, it is very easy for every woman to make the correct diagnosis on her own: buy a pregnancy test and test yourself.

PMS treatment

What to do if a woman begins to experience PMS symptoms? Treat, of course. Deal with symptoms.
But first of all, treatment should begin with eliminating the causes that can lead to the appearance of this syndrome:

Increase physical activity. Join a fitness club, do yoga, and other types of physical exercise. In summer - running, in winter - exercise bike. That is, move, don’t sit in front of the TV or computer all the time.
- strive to lose excess weight, or gain if the weight is insufficient.
- stop excessive intake of sweet foods - chocolate, sweets, pastries, pies, soda, etc.
- stop taking contraceptives.
- on weekends, relax outside the city, in holiday homes, at the dacha, with your grandmother in the village, or simply go out into nature as a group, on bicycles, and take your mind off city problems.
- get rid of bad habits. Often, just giving up smoking or light alcohol (beer, tonic) can lead to the cessation of PMS symptoms (and such reviews from young girls are not uncommon).
- cure, if any, infectious or endocrine diseases.

In any case, treatment should be prescribed and monitored by your doctor.
If the above methods of eliminating the immediate causes do not help, then additional therapy must be included:

1) Hormone therapy. Typically, for PMS, progesterone and gestagen drugs are prescribed in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, that is, 15 days before the start of menstruation.

2) Vitamins and microelements: in this case, it is best to purchase complex vitamin preparations such as “Complivit”.

3) Calming and sedative medications (for example, diazepam, Relanium), including herbal medicines: valerian, valocordin, motherwort tincture, etc.

4) Reflexology and acupuncture.

5) Physiotherapy, water treatments, swimming pool, massage.

Is sex possible?
With PMS, sex is quite possible. If a woman does not have serious illnesses or injuries that may be a contraindication for having sex, then with premenstrual syndrome, healthy sex can even, on the contrary, have a therapeutic effect.
Usually, comprehensive treatment and normalization of lifestyle leads to the elimination of PMS symptoms, and the woman’s life returns to normal.
If no treatment helps, in extreme cases you have to undergo surgery - removal of the ovaries.
Another, unconventional way to treat PMS, especially in cases where no treatment helps, is turning to God. Typically, a woman’s religiosity and piety stabilizes her inner world, normalizes the neuropsychic sphere, and prevents the development of various symptoms such as irritability or aggression, tearfulness or depression.
And such reviews happened when only a woman’s piety helped in curing severe decompensated forms of premenstrual syndrome.

The question is often asked: what is PMS in girls? Many have heard about this, but not everyone has a clear idea of what causes nervous breakdowns and bad mood in women three to four days before the onset of menstruation.

What is PMS in girls?

You should start by deciphering PMS. This is premenstrual syndrome, which is typical for most girls and women. About 70% of the fair sex are subject to its influence.

PMS occurs once a month 2-12 days before menstruation and lasts from 3 to 6 days. During this period, women react differently to the processes occurring in their body. Some feel virtually no changes, while others are better left alone.

Since ancient times, doctors have tried to decipher this phenomenon. Various assumptions have been made that PMS is associated with the characteristics of the area where the woman lived, her state of health, and even with the lunar phases. Doctors were able to get to the bottom of the truth only in the twentieth century and continue to study this phenomenon to this day.

During PMS, the female body changes. Against the background of a lack of progesterone, the production of regulatory hormone begins, which leads to its accumulation. Ultimately, a hormonal imbalance is formed, which has a direct effect on the nervous system, leading to a deterioration in the woman’s well-being and mood swings.

It has been established that the older a woman is, the harder it is for her to endure PMS. Factors that can aggravate the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome:

poor nutrition;
stress;
inadequate rest;
hereditary predisposition;
excess weight;
smoking;
gynecological operations.

As soon as a girl’s period ends and her hormonal levels return to normal, all PMS symptoms disappear without a trace.

Signs of PMS onset

Even a completely healthy girl can experience a whole range of unpleasant sensations a few days before her period. During the period of PMS, ladies become extremely hot-tempered and irritable. Against the background of depression, they begin to experience sharp emotional changes that can lead to conflicts in the family and at work, and taste preferences change.

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For each woman, PMS is expressed individually, depending on the characteristics of the body. Doctors have identified a number of common symptoms accompanying the syndrome:

disturbance of night sleep;
lower back pain;
constant feeling of hunger;
painful breast swelling;
weight gain;
painful sensations in the joints;
loss of strength even after light and short work;
migraine;
tachycardia;
increased sensitivity to odors;
nausea, vomiting;
swelling of the face and limbs;
aggression, depression;
feelings of fear and anxiety, panic attacks;
decreased concentration, drowsiness;
elevated body temperature.

Another negative effect of PMS is that it can significantly aggravate a woman’s existing illnesses:

migraine;
asthma;
allergy;
thyroid diseases;
irritable bowel syndrome;
epilepsy;
diseases of the genitourinary system.

Typically, the period of PMS is accompanied by the presence of at least five symptoms. In rare cases, a lady may experience almost the entire list of unpleasant sensations.

Is irritability always a sign of PMS?

Does the onset of PMS mean that absolutely all girls feel unwell, are irritable and prone to mood swings? This statement is far from the truth. Men often think that if a woman is tired and angry, it means she has premenstrual cycle syndrome. However, PMS lasts only a few days and is not always accompanied by pronounced symptoms.

The cause of a lady's fatigue, aggressive behavior and bad mood may stem from dissatisfaction and problems in other aspects of her life. Men should be more attentive to the fair sex and not attribute everything to PMS, which translates as the premenstrual cycle.

How to relieve premenstrual symptoms?

It is impossible to completely get rid of the effects of PMS. This is a natural process that occurs monthly in the female body.

If a woman suffers greatly from pain during the period of the syndrome, then she can relieve the symptoms with the help of painkillers. It is worth considering that chronic diseases worsen with PMS. Therefore, it is better to purchase the necessary medications in advance.

To alleviate her condition, a girl can follow a number of tips:

These simple tips allow a woman to reduce the effects of PMS symptoms without undergoing therapy or taking medications.

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The difference between PMS and pregnancy

There are a number of similar symptoms during pregnancy and PMS. They are very similar, but have some differences that are important to consider. After conceiving a child, the female body begins to actively produce the hormone progesterone. This leads to emotional instability, nausea, attacks of back pain, and breast swelling. Similar symptoms are observed with PMS.

A distinctive feature of pregnancy is a delay in menstruation. If it begins in a timely manner, then the woman is dealing with the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. However, pregnant women may also have discharge these days. But they are less abundant than usual.

Signs to distinguish PMS from pregnancy:

Sign	PMS	Pregnancy
Back pain	There is pain in the lumbar region	Begins in the last trimester
Emotional level	Tearful state, irritability	Mood swings
Abdominal pain, lower part	Usually there are	Short-term and weak
Fatigue	May appear 3-4 days before menstruation or after ovulation	Begins to appear a month after conception
Appetite	There is a desire to eat salty or sweet foods	The sense of smell becomes sharper, tastes in food change
Frequent urge to urinate	None	Usually there are
Toxicosis	Possible nausea	May appear 4-5 weeks after conception
Chest pain	With the onset of menstruation it passes	Appears throughout pregnancy

Since menstruation can occur even during pregnancy, it is important for a woman to correctly assess the situation. If you have any doubts, you should immediately visit a gynecologist, who will explain how to decipher the signs accurately and help you understand the situation.

The need to see a doctor

If symptoms associated with PMS cause serious concern and interfere with a woman’s full life, it makes sense to consult a doctor for advice. In such cases, symptomatic therapy is usually prescribed.

Before this, the doctor will conduct an examination, study the symptoms and form of PMS, and then decide to prescribe specific medications that will relieve pain and other unpleasant consequences of premenstrual syndrome.

According to Wikipedia, PMS or premenstrual syndrome is not a disease, as many believe, but rather a condition that occurs in girls shortly before menstruation. Most often, this syndrome is noticed by girls from 18 to 35 years old, since the characteristic signs at this age are more pronounced. Girls usually learn what PMS is in girls and women at school. The concept remains vague and some nuances still require explanation.

To answer the question how many days before your period does PMS begin, you need to turn to your own feelings on certain days of the month, since some notice the signs a week before the event, while others suffer only 2-3 days.

PMS symptoms

According to its manifestations, PMS comes in the following forms and types:

Experts also distinguish the following subtypes of PMS:

decompensated form. Symptoms begin to appear before the start of menstruation (10 days before) and end as early as a week after the end of menstruation. This syndrome lasts about 20 days, and sometimes a whole month, then dying down, then flaring up again;
compensated form of premenstrual malaise. Symptoms begin to appear 2-4 days before the start of menstruation and disappear quickly with its onset. This period lasts no more than a week.

Based on severity, PMS is divided into the following categories:

The main causes of PMS

Premenstrual syndrome, what is it? Scientifically speaking, this is a set of symptoms that accompany a woman before her period. The causes of PMS may be the following:

It is noteworthy that smoking itself provokes the release of hormones and constriction of blood vessels, and this can disrupt a girl’s hormonal balance. The favorite alcoholic drink of modern women is beer, which contains phytoestrogens, or plant female sex hormones. This component also does not leave its mark on the body, disrupting hormonal levels and leading to disease.

It should be noted that residents of rural areas are much less likely to be bothered by this syndrome, and in settlements that have been practically untouched by civilization, they don’t even know about PMS. This is due to the fact that thanks to proper nutrition and adequate physical activity, the hormonal levels in women are not subject to fluctuations, that is, they are stable.

History of PMS

In the distant 30s, after tracking a pattern in the premenstrual behavior and condition of a group of women, doctor Robert Frank defined the condition as “premenstrual tension.” He called the main reason a disruption of the usual hormonal balance.

Even in modern conditions, scientists are still trying to unravel the mystery of the phenomenon of female syndrome and how long PMS lasts in girls, since in some cases uncharacteristic behavior is observed even 10-15 days before the onset of discharge.

There are several theories about the occurrence of PMS, but none of them can fully explain the causes of the disorder.

Hormonal imbalance theory

On certain days of the cycle, girls experience a hormonal imbalance that occurs between progesterone and estrogen - female sex hormones. Hormonal imbalance provokes psycho-emotional disorders, metabolic-endocrine disorders and problems in the functioning of the vegetative-vascular system.

High levels of estrogen retain water in cells and sodium ions. As a result, a woman suffers from swelling and soreness of the mammary glands, swelling, and problems with the excretory and cardiovascular systems. Tearfulness, nervousness, lethargy - these are all signs of hormonal imbalance..

Theory of water intoxication

In this case, psycho-emotional and physical ailments are associated with a violation of the water-salt balance. Swelling, fluid retention, itching and increased sensitivity to many odors are the result of endocrine disorders in the body. Swelling often adds up to 5 kg of excess weight to a woman, and with the onset of menstruation, all water accumulations naturally disappear.

Theory of central nervous system disorders

This theory of the occurrence of the syndrome arose recently and is considered the most modern. It says that disruptions in the girl’s physical and emotional state may be associated with disorders of the nervous system.

Moreover, the older a woman is, the more acute and pronounced the symptoms of her PMS are. Women before menstruation are irritable, aggressive and inconsistent in their behavior, and teenagers and young girls are overcome by melancholy, a depressive tearful state.

Diagnosis of PMS

Once you know how PMS is translated, you can move on to methods for diagnosing the malaise. Gynecologists make the diagnosis. Despite the narrow profile of such doctors, they can determine why the syndrome developed. A gynecologist may suspect mental illness, heart disease, colds, the nervous system, or simply blood pressure affecting hormone levels. A characteristic feature of the syndrome is its clear connection with menstruation, that is, a constantly repeating process. Most often, gynecologists can use this cyclicity to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe medications, if necessary.

Self-control diary

You can independently determine the cause of PMS by keeping a diary.. A woman can keep a record of all the symptoms and sensations that she experiences over several months. Every day you need to write down in a diary everything that happens during the day - any emotions, experiences, anxiety, headaches, blood pressure or temperature.

After some time, when enough information has been collected, this diary can be shown to the doctor, or analyzed independently. If the symptoms are clear, alarming and interfere with the normal course of life, you should still trust the doctor. If the signs are barely noticeable and do not in any way affect your performance or emotional state, you can cope on your own. In an ideal picture of PMS symptoms, certain ailments will recur every month on the same day. After analyzing the records, the doctor will prescribe medications and the symptoms will no longer bother you.

How not to confuse PMS with pregnancy

Often the symptoms of the syndrome can be confused with signs of pregnancy, but still, if you thoroughly understand the nuances of the two conditions, it will become clear how to determine whether it is pregnancy, or simply PMS. Perhaps the first sign is constant insatiable hunger. If such signs have not been noticed before, the girl makes a completely logical conclusion - pregnancy. But if you look at it, cravings for food begin in women at least after several weeks of delay, but not before. Thus, if the time to determine the delay has not yet come, but the desire to enjoy chocolate or salted tomatoes is already right there, you can safely talk about a symptom of PMS.

There are other factors that help separate the signs of pregnancy and PMS:

lower back pain. During pregnancy, this symptom is observed only in the later stages;
emotional condition. The state of pregnancy always causes mood swings, that is, you can feel good at heart, and then suddenly feel bad a minute later. With the syndrome - the mood is consistently depressed and tearful, without any bright spots;
bloody issues. If blood is noticed long before the onset of menstruation, then most likely it is pregnancy;
basal temperature. During ovulation it increases, and before menstruation it is within 36.7 degrees. If the temperature does not decrease, then we can talk about inflammation of the cervix or pregnancy.

Still, the most reliable way to exclude pregnancy is to buy a pregnancy test at any pharmacy. If it is positive, then all symptoms relate to PMS.

PMS treatment

If the symptoms of PMS that appear interfere with your normal life, then, of course, you need to get rid of them, and if you just feel slight melancholy and sadness, then it is better not to take pills again and suffer a few days of minor depression.

Before you begin to influence the ailments themselves, you need to try to change your lifestyle, which could affect the imbalance of hormones.

In any case, self-medication is dangerous, so any medications should be prescribed by a doctor after examination. If PMS is mild, it is better to stop taking any medications. Knowing how PMS is translated, what its symptoms are and how this syndrome can be influenced, you can not be afraid of the unpleasant and sometimes dangerous manifestations of this disease.