Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disorder marked by physical and behavioral symptoms that occur in a cyclical pattern. They appear a week or two before an expected menstrual period and improve with the onset of menses. The nature and severity of symptoms vary. If your symptoms are so severe that they interfere with daily activities, you may want to seek treatment.

The Menstrual Flow

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As many as 75% of women of reproductive age have discomfort prior to menses, but only 3%-10% of cases are thought to be severe enough to be categorized as PMS. This problem is most commonly seen between the ages of 25-34 and is somewhat more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women. A small percentage of women with PMS have a very severe form called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Although the cause of PMS is not known, the cyclical pattern that parallels the menstrual cycle has directed the focus of study to hormonal changes. These changes are thought to act with other factors in the nervous system as well as the environment to trigger the symptoms of PMS.

REFERENCES:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: Practice Bulletin No. 15, April 2000.

National Women’s Health Information Center website. Available at: http://www.4woman.gov/ . Accessed March 1, 2006.

Last reviewed September 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE
Last Updated: 9/30/09