How to Find Out if You Have PMS

What is premenstrual syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a physical and emotional disorder that may be caused by hormonal changes that occur with a girl's or woman's monthly period. Even women who have had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus or womb) can have PMS if their ovaries are still working.

What are the symptoms of PMS?

More than 150 different symptoms have been reported by women with PMS. Some of the more common symptoms are:

• fluid retention
• weight gain
• aches and pains
• food cravings
• irritability
• fearfulness
• anxiety
• depression
• hostility
• inability to concentrate

Although many people have these problems at some time in their lives, women with PMS usually have them during the five to 10 days before their period.

How is PMS diagnosed?

Your doctor may first want to ask you about your medical history and then have you undergo a physical exam. Your doctor may want to order laboratory tests to make sure you don't have some other disease with symptoms like those of PMS. No single laboratory test can diagnose PMS.

Next, your doctor will probably want to be certain that you are ovulating (releasing eggs from your ovaries). You will probably be asked to take your temperature each morning before you get out of bed. You would then record each daily temperature on a chart. You will probably also need to keep a daily record of the symptoms that bother you the most. You would keep this record for two or three months.

You may want to sue a form like the one shown below to record your temperatures and symptoms. The information you write down on this form will help you and your doctor to get a more complete understanding of your problems with PMS.

How is PMS treated?

Although PMS can't be cured, you can do many things to help control your symptoms. These include diet and exercise medicine and, possible, counseling. Your doctor will use the information from your medical history, physical exam and the form with your temperatures and symptoms to help you choose the best treatment. Be sure to tell your doctor whether a treatment is helping you. Together, you and your doctor should be able to find the best way to manage your symptoms.

This information provides a general overview on premenstrual syndrome and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

This handout is provided to you by your family physician and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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