---
title: What causes severe PMS and how is it treated? | Niyora
description: Severe PMS is caused by the body's reaction to normal hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. It is treatable with hormonal methods or antidepressants.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-2008/
---

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- What causes severe PMS and how is it treated?

Study, 2008

# What causes severe PMS and how is it treated?

Severe PMS is caused by the body's reaction to normal hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. It is treatable with hormonal methods or antidepressants.

 Early or limited evidence

Review of severe PMS and PMDD generally; not a specific study population

## What they did

Reviewed what is known about severe PMS and PMDD, their causes, and their treatments.

## What they found

About 5-8% of women have severe PMS, and most of these also have PMDD. Mood symptoms like irritability, mood swings, and depression are usually the most distressing, though physical symptoms like breast tenderness and bloating can also be very problematic. Treatments that stop ovulation (such as birth control pills, hormone patches, or GnRH medications) work well. Antidepressants that affect serotonin, taken throughout the cycle or just during the luteal phase, also work well.

## What it means for you

Severe PMS is a real medical condition affecting a small percentage of women. It is treatable using hormonal methods or antidepressants. This review summarizes knowledge from 2008, so newer treatments may have emerged since then.

5-8%

Women with severe PMS

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome Authors Yonkers KA, O'Brien PM, Eriksson E Journal Lancet (London, England) Year 2008 Study design Study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(08)60527-9](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(08)60527-9)

## Topics

[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)

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

Randomised trial, 2003

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

Study, 2022

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD?

Systematic review, 2024

What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?

Guideline, 2023

How are GnRH agonists used to treat PMDD that doesn't respond to standard medications?

Systematic review, 2022

What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?

Review, 2018

What are the most effective treatments for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD?

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