Pre-menstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome is a combination of physical and emotional disturbances that occur after a woman ovulates and ends with menstruation " ( Khajehei M 2015 )" PMS can be broadly defined as any constellation of psychological and physical symptoms that recur regularly in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle , remit for atleast one week in the follicular phase and cause distress and functional impairment " ( Carol A. Henshaw 2007 )

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ( PMDD ) is a more severe form of PMS that occurs in a small number of women and leads to remarkable disability and loss of function.

How common ? Most women who ovulate experience PMS RCOG quotes that 40 % ( 4 in 1) would suffer with PMS and 5-8 % of these suffer with severe PMS It can affect women throughout the reproductive cycle One study ( Cormac J Sammon et al 2016 ) has shown that○ proportion of reproductive age reporting atleast one PMS symptom or symptoms is between 50-90 %○ proportion reporting severe symptoms or symptoms that interfere with daily activities is between 10-30 %○ proportion meeting the strict DSM PMDD criteria is between 1-8 %

Cause - Various theories...