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- What is PMS?
- Symptoms of PMS
- Causes of PMS
- Prevention of PMS
- Risk factors for PMS
- Complications of PMS
- When to see a doctor about PMS
- Diagnosis of PMS
- Conventional treatment of PMS
- Alternative/complementary treatment of PMS
- Living with PMS
- Caring for someone with PMS
Prevention of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) may be unpreventable in certain circumstances:
- Abnormal hormones - some women have abnormal blood levels of certain hormones (eostrogen, progesterone, prolactin, FSH, LH, serotonin) during the monthly menstrual cycle and this may result in PMS symptoms. Current science does not know why some women have abnormally high or low levels of certain hormones so they do not know how to prevent PMS occurring due to this factor
- Abnormal central nervous system function - some women have a central nervous system that simply does not function in a normal manner to the normal fluctuations of hormones during the monthly menstrual cycle and instead the central nervous system (CNS) instead behaves abnormally and causes the PMS symptoms. Current science does not know why some women's CNS behaves abnormally and so do not know how to prevent PMS from this factor
- Genetics - some women inherit their faulty genes from their parents and if a woman's female relatives all had PMS, then it is probably very difficult to prevent it from occurring (but it can be mitigated to a degree)
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There may be ways to prevent PMS from occurring or at least preventing symptoms from becoming very severe:
- Exercise - a lot of research suggests that regular exercise can reduce the symptoms of PMS, by increasing levels of endorphins, the "feel good" hormones as well as increasing levels of serotonin, one of the hormones thought to be responsible for the mood problems during PMS. Exercise should be engaged on a regular basis, every day to be effective
- Reduce salt - excessive salt intake can lead to fluid retention symptoms such as breast tenderness and general fluid retention. The substance in salt that is responsible for the fluid retention is sodium. Sodium occurs naturally in all foods, but it is in a specific ration with potassium (a natural anti-diuretic) to prevent fluid retention problems. There is a lot of hidden sodium in processed or packaged foods, so avoiding these at least in the two weeks prior to menstruation may help to avoid the worst of the fluid retention symptoms during PMS
- Relaxation strategies - any type of relaxation strategy may help to reduce the emotional symptoms of PMS by increasing levels of serotonin. Some good relaxation therapies are: meditation, tai chi, yoga
- Treat underlying nutritional deficiencies - in some cases there may be an underlying nutritional deficiency which is causing the PMS. If the diet does not contain all the nine essential amino acids, the vitamin, minerals and antioxidants, then there could be a deficiency and this needs further investigation by a registered dietician. Most commonly the following supplements are prescribed for women with PMDD: calcium, omega-3 essential fatty acid (in the form of fish oil), evening primrose oil (which has a high content of GLA) and magnesium
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< 3: causes 5: risk factors > Last reviewed: 15 August 2008 || Last updated: 9 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
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.
