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.
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
Topics
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