Help and Advice on Premenstrual Syndrome

"A guide to alternative treatments for PMS and PMDD and links to latest scientific research."
 
                

More than 70% of women suffer from premenstrual syndrome and most assume that they should just put up with it, that it is normal to feel this way every month. I suffer mainly from mood related PMS symptoms (mood swings, fatigue, irritability, paranoia, headaches, low self esteem etc….) and painful abdominal cramps during period. These symptoms sometimes last as long as 2 and a half weeks. I tried many alternative treatments which didn't seem to help before seeing my GP about my PMS. This site is really just a way for me to store the information I've found but i hope it will be useful to other women too!

Be warned, there are a lot of websites who make unfactual claims about the causes of PMS and the efficiancy of treatments. Doctors do their best to help but most of it is guesswork, as the cause(s) of PMS are still unknown. Many treatments claimed to cure PMS are unproven so the only option is to try different things and see what works for you.

The main drug treatments offered in UK for PMS are contraceptive pills and SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Often contraceptive pills will agravate mood-related symptoms rather than curing them. Also contraceptive pills affect absorption of the B vitamins which are essential for stabilising hormone levels. Doctors suprisingly never mention this, perhaps being unaware! I had tension headaches on the combined pill, whereas progestin-only pills made me suicidally depressed and tired all month round. My PMS was worse while on these pills and the symptoms persisted for months after coming off them. SSRI’s (e.g. Prozac/Sarafem) are anti-depressants and can have very distressing side-effects. Also SSRI’s will treat symptoms only while you are taking the drug. At age 24, I don’t see SSRI's as a solution for me. Quote "Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine are better than placebo, with improvement occurring in the first month, but symptoms return to baseline after cessation of treatment" from 22nd Annual meeting of the Canadian College of Neurophyschopharmacology. I would only recomend anti-depressants as a last resort, if you really cannot cope. And they are only a short term treatment, not a cure.
Also article on research supported by Eli Lilly (makers of SSRI fluoxetine):
http://www.geocities.com/pmddandpms/newsreports_09.html
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/455376

Your doctor may suggest counselling which is also offered at PMS clinics and is apparently very helpful for PMS. Personally I don’t think counselling will help stabilise hormone levels but may help with feelings of low self esteem and negative thoughts and help with managing these emotions.

There are many supplements and herbal remedies which may reduce PMS symptoms. I’ve listed the alternative treatments I’ve found helpful for each symptom, most sites don't do this! I will keep updating the site from my own experiences with different treatments. Also I’ve included a section on the latest scientific research on PMS/PMDD, with links.

*PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It is the acronym for the more severe form of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). "Like PMS, PMDD occurs the week before the onset of menstruation and disappears a few days after. PMDD is characterised by severe monthly mood swings and physical symptoms that interfere with everyday life, especially a woman’s relationships with her family and friends. PMDD symptoms go far beyond what are considered manageable or normal premenstrual symptoms."

Some (US) sites recommend the following tests:
 “A thorough physical exam including gynecological examination is recommended in the assessment of all women being evaluated for PMS. Organic causes of PMS-like symptoms must be ruled out. Marked fatigue may result from anemia, leukemia, hypothyroidism, or diuretic-induced potassium deficiency. Headaches may be due to intracranial lesions. Women attending PMS clinics have been found to have brain tumours, anemia, leukemia, thyroid dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders, pelvic tumours including endometriosis, and other recurrent premenstrual phenomena such as arthritis, asthma, epilepsy, and pneumothorax (20).”

It may be worth enquiring with your GP about these tests.




If you have any comments or want to chat about PMS! you can post a message on my yahoo pms-resource group which is at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pmsresource/