Abstract
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a serious condition that is still poorly understood
and accepted. It is a psychological and somatic disorder of unknown aetiology. It
is quoted that 95% of women suffer from premenstrual symptoms and 5% of these suffer
from PMS. Symptoms of PMS must arise in the luteal phase of a woman’s cycle, be relieved
by menstruation, and be recurrent and severe enough to have a major impact on normal
functioning. There are no tests to diagnose PMS; instead, a careful history must be
taken, ruling out differentials. However, the diagnosis should be made following prospective
symptom rating using validated tools. Several treatment options have been suggested
for PMS, including behavioural therapies, committing to a regular exercise programme,
simple dietary alterations, and pharmacological and surgical interventions. However,
the most effective treatments tend to fall into one of two categories: suppressing
ovulation or correcting a speculated neuroendocrine anomaly.
Keywords
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Further reading
- The premenstrual syndrome: a twin study.Br J Psychiatry. 1993; 162: 481-486
- The potential for dietary supplements to reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms.J Am Coll Nutr. 2000; 19: 3-12
- Diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.Am Fam Physician. 2002; 66: 1239-1249
- Premenstrual syndrome: an update on definitions, diagnosis and management.Advan Psychiatr Treat. 2001; 7: 469-477
- Premenstrual syndrome therapy.Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 1998; 41: 405-421
- Longitudinal population-based twin study of retrospectively reported premenstrual symptoms and lifetime major depression.Am J Psychiatry. 1998; 155: 1234-1240
- Premenstrual syndrome.in: Shaw R.W. Soutter W.P. Stanton S.L. Gynaecology. 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh2003: 1401-1413
- Evidence-based management of premenstrual syndrome.Eur Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2006; 2: 65-71
- Complementary therapy.(Available from:)
- Prevalence of perimenstrual symptoms.Am J Public Health. 1982; 72: 1257-1264
- Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: systematic review.BMJ. 1999; 318: 1375-1381
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© 2007 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
