What is Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) - Health Conditions

What is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?

What is pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)?

Pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS is a physical and psychological disorder that causes a number of symptoms (both physical and psychological) that affect the physical and emotional well-being of women for a period of up to two weeks prior to menstruation.

While PMS can occur for up to two weeks prior to menstruation (usually just after ovulation), the worst symptoms seem to occur in the the week and days just before menstruation. PMS normally disappears (or is reduced significantly) once menstruation starts.

PMS was first classed as a medical disorder in 1953 by Dr Raymond Greene and Dr Katharina Dalton in a paper published in the British Medical Journal the same year.

Research shows that up to 90% of all women experience some level of PMS during their menstruating years and that around 40% of these women have PMS symptoms that disrupt their life in some major way.

Some women even report that any underlying medical disorders (allergies, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome) seem to get worse, or just much harder to manage during PMS.

Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has recently been identified as a type of PMS, but with much worse symptoms.

Facts about PMS

PMS is very common in women and occurs in almost all women (about 90%)
PMS can occur at any time, but is most common in women in their late 20's to early 30's and beyond
PMS normally ends once menopause starts
Some women find that having a baby makes PMS worse
Some women find that having a baby relieves their PMS greatly
PMS seems to get worse as women get older
PMS is a very misdiagnosed and misunderstood medical disorder

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Last reviewed: 15 August 2008 || Last updated: 9 January 2010

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Irritable bowel syndrome (conditions)
Linoleic acid (glossary)
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Pap smear (glossary)
PMDD (conditions)
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Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.

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