Also called: Also called: PMS
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a group of symptoms that start one to two weeks before your period. Most women have at least some symptoms of PMS, and the symptoms go away after their periods start. For some women, the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with their lives. They have a type of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD.
Common PMS symptoms include
- Breast swelling and tenderness
- Acne
- Bloating and weight gain
- Pain - headache or joint pain
- Food cravings
- Irritability, mood swings, crying spells, depression
No one knows what causes PMS, but hormonal changes trigger the symptoms. No single PMS treatment works for everyone. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen may help ease cramps, headaches, backaches and breast tenderness. Avoiding salt, caffeine and alcohol, exercising and getting enough sleep can also help.
National Women's Health Information Center
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Premenstrual Syndrome(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/premenstrual-syndrome.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/preguntas/pms.htm
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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp057.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/sp057.cfm
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/premenstrual-syndrome/DS00134/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Stopping Antidepressants Boosts Risk of PMS Relapse(05/04/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83770.html
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Black Cohosh
(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/blackcohosh/
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Chasteberry(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chasteberry/
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Evening Primrose Oil(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/eveningprimrose/
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Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/mental/752.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/mental/752.printerview.html
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): A Severe Form of PMS(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pmdd/AN01372/METHOD=print
- Water Retention Before Your Period: How to Stop the Swelling(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/water-retention/WO00130/METHOD=print
- Atlas of the Body: Female Reproductive Organs(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZ8QKJ56JC
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Premenstrual Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Premenstrual+Syndrome%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its relationship with blood pressure... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19301714&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: An animal model of premenstrual dysphoric disorder sensitive to antidepressants. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19170024&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Chinese herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19160284&tool=MedlinePlus
- Premenstrual Syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=premenstrual+syndrome[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/member-lookup/disclaimer.cfm
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - http://www.acog.org/
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National Women's Health Information Center(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - http://womenshealth.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/
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Coping with Common Period Problems(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/menstrual_problems.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/menstrual_problems_esp.html
- How Your Period Makes You Feel(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://www.girlshealth.gov/body/period/period_feelings.cfm
- Menstruation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menstruation.html
- Female Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalereproductivesystem.html
- Women - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/women.html