Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a complex of symptoms that occur
cyclically in week or two prior to the onset of menstruation and disappears
shortly after the onset of menstrual bleeding.

What Are the Symptoms of PMS?

There are over 150 symptoms attributed to PMS. We have divided them into three groups:

Common Symptoms, Less Obvious Symptoms, and Difficult To Recognize (as PMS) Symptoms.
PMS symptoms affect or involve virtually every organ and organ system in the body.

Get Rid of your PMS Symptoms in 30 Days!

Dr. Guy Abraham, has taken the most common PMS symptoms and defined four categories or type or groups of PMS:

The Anxiety Group, is the most common and frequently these are the symptoms most women attribute to PMS. These specific symptoms are often quite debilitating causing episodes of anxiety, mood swings, irritability and nervous tension which may invade and even on occasion take over the woman's life

Nearly 80% of all women with PMS have one or more of these symptoms to some degree. In many women these symptoms may start as early as two weeks before their menstrual period. They are frequently not recognized by the woman herself, she may think that this is just part of who she is. Typically these symptoms are more commonly noticed by her partner and even her children.

More than 60% of all PMS women have symptoms from the Water Retention Group. The most common symptoms in this group are weight gain, swelling of the extremities, breast tenderness and abdominal bloating. These while the symptoms in the Anxiety Group are primarily emotional and intangible the symptoms of the Water Retention Group are more commonly physical and measurable. The woman can immediately recognize that she has gained weight, her breasts are tender, she has swelling of her hands, feet and legs and abdominal bloating. Often women will seek medical attention for these symptoms, but unfortunately most doctors may not even consider PMS as a diagnosis. Expensive, unnecessary laboratory testing is done, medications are prescribed and often valuable time during which the real problem could have been treated is lost. These symptoms, especially when combined with the more common Anxiety Symptoms commonly undermine the self-image of most PMS women.

The swelling is usually seen as getting fatter and this weakens her self-value. She may feel as if she has no control over her life, which leaves her powerless and more likely to take less in her day to day life. When the PMS woman, who is already very emotionally distressed, sees herself swelling and gaining weight she often is driven to either starve herself or binge.

The Cravings Group is the next most common group of symptoms occurring in more than 40% of all PMS women. We refer to this group of symptoms as the Cravings Group because most of the symptoms either relate to increased appetite, or cravings for certain foods during the week to two weeks prior to the onset of menstruation. The most prominent craving is for chocolate, but for many PMS women there can be cravings for just about anything that is sweet. Generally, the cravings come in times of increased stress.

The Depression Group occurs in about 20% of all women who suffer from PMS. It commonly occurs in association with the anxiety group. This means that these women may be simultaneously anxious and depressed. This group includes a number of highly disabling symptoms such as depression, withdrawal, forgetfulness, frequent crying, confusion and insomnia.

This group can be of special concern, for it is not unusual for women with this group to have suicidal thoughts and on occasion actually to become a danger to themselves. Occasionally, they may even attempt suicide. And, tragically, sometimes they succeed.

This group differs from the other three groups in that it may be due to low levels of estrogen rather than elevated levels of estrogen as is true in the other groups.

The Difficulty in Making the Diagnosis of PMS

While we have divided the above symptoms into groups, we must be clear that any one woman may have a combination of these and many other symptoms. She may not necessarily have all of the symptoms in any one group, and she may have a varying degree of each of these symptoms from one or all four groups.

As we stated above, there have been more than 150 different symptoms recognized and attributed to PMS. PMS symptoms are found to involve just about every organ and organ system of the body. Symptoms of PMS range from mild mood changes all the way to serious suicidal behavior; from acne to alcoholism.

Frequent Symptoms: Dr. Katrina Dalton has lists many other symptoms. She has divided them into different types of groups more aligned with body systems.

Psychological:	Lethargy, feeling suicidal, personality changes, assault, child abuse, self injury, alcoholic addictions, anxiety, panic
Nervous System:	Migraine, epilepsy, vertigo or dizziness, fainting.
Skin:	Acne, boils, herpes, urticaria (hives)
Respiratory:	Asthma, rhinitis (runny nose).
Orthopedic: (Bones and Joints)	Backache, joint pains, edema (swelling).
Ophthalmologic: (Related to the Eyes)	Sties, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, uveitis (infection of the uvea of the eye.)
Otorhinolaryngology: (Ear, Nose and Throat)	Sinusitis, sore throat, hoarseness, laryngitis, pharyngitis
Urologic: Urinary System)	Cystitis (bladder infections), urethritis (urethral infection).
Gastro-Intestinal:	Abdominal pains, compulsive eating.
Breasts:	Breast engorgement and swelling.

More Difficult to Recognize Symptoms of PMS:

These are a number of symptoms which are often not well recognized as caused to PMS. They are frequently not even associated with PMS. They can cause major problems with self-esteem and significantly reduce the woman's joy of life.

• Uncontrollable food binges

• Inability to stop eating chocolate or sweets

• Altered tolerance to alcohol just before menstrual periods, alcoholism

• Increased or decreased libido and sexuality, nymphomania.

• Taking naps or not getting out of bed

• Decreased feeling of well-being

• Distractible and difficulty coping with life

• Affectionate

• Orderliness

• Bursts of energy and activity

• Aggression, impulse to harm to others

• Lowered performance and self-esteem

• Loneliness or wanting to be alone and avoid others

• Impaired judgment

• Difficulty in concentration

• Excitement

• Avoidance of social interaction

• Restlessness

• Change in eating habits

• Hopelessness and despair

• Strong surges of fear and even phobias

• Difficulty sleeping

• Feelings of worthlessness

• Difficulty communicating with others

• Fear of death, fantasies of death or suicide

• Inability to cope with work

• Feelings of loss of control

• Needing a lot of re-assurance and closeness