---
title: How should PMS be diagnosed and treated? | Niyora
description: PMS is diagnosed based on recurring symptoms with a symptom-free week in the first half of the cycle. Treatment should start with lifestyle changes like diet
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/managing-the-premenstrual-syndrome-1986/
---

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- How should PMS be diagnosed and treated?

Review, 1986

# How should PMS be diagnosed and treated?

PMS is diagnosed based on recurring symptoms with a symptom-free week in the first half of the cycle. Treatment should start with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, with medication added if these do not work.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with PMS

## What they did

This was a review article discussing the definition, classification, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of PMS. The authors presented guidelines for how to manage PMS in clinical practice.

## What they found

PMS involves physical and emotional symptoms that repeat each cycle. Proposed causes include hormone imbalances between estrogen and progesterone, vitamin B6 deficiency, low blood sugar, excess prostaglandin, and changes in a hormone called aldosterone. Conservative treatments should be tried first, including diet changes, exercise, stress management, sleep improvement, and social support. If these do not work, medications such as progesterone, vitamin B6, bromocriptine, or diuretics might help.

## What it means for you

This provides a framework for understanding PMS and how to approach treatment by starting with lifestyle changes first. However, this is from 1986 and the authors acknowledge that research on PMS treatments was limited. Better evidence may exist now.

## About the study

Original title Managing the premenstrual syndrome Authors Smith MA, Youngkin EQ Journal Clinical pharmacy Year 1986 Study design Review What was tested Various non-medication and medication approaches to treating PMS Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/43.11.2893](https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/43.11.2893)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Systematic review, 2007

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Study, 2002

Which PMS treatments have good scientific evidence?

Review, 1999

Does vitamin B6 supplement help treat PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2007

Does bromocriptine or pyridoxine help reduce PMS symptoms?

Study, 1979

Does dydrogesterone or pyridoxine work better for premenstrual syndrome?

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