---
title: What causes PMS and PMDD, and can medication help treat them?
description: This review suggests PMS and PMDD may involve the brain's serotonin system reacting differently to normal hormone levels, and it reports that SSRI medications
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-advances-in-diagnosis-and-treatment-2000/
---

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- What causes PMS and PMDD, and can medication help treat them?

Survey study, 2000

# What causes PMS and PMDD, and can medication help treat them?

This review suggests PMS and PMDD may involve the brain's serotonin system reacting differently to normal hormone levels, and it reports that SSRI medications have helped relieve mood symptoms for most women in large trials.

 Early or limited evidence

Reproductive-aged women with PMS or PMDD

## What they did

This paper reviews existing medical knowledge and research on PMS and PMDD, covering how they are diagnosed and treated. It does not describe a new study with its own group of participants.

## What they found

The review states that when strict research definitions are used, PMDD is thought to affect about 3% to 5% of women of reproductive age. It describes growing evidence that women with PMS may have altered sensitivity of brain chemicals, especially serotonin, to normal levels of the hormones estradiol and progesterone. It also reports that the largest trials of SSRIs showed these medications relieved distressing mood symptoms and improved social functioning in most patients.

## What it means for you

This is a summary of other research rather than a new study, so it reflects what was known at the time rather than testing a new group of women. It suggests SSRIs may genuinely help many women with PMDD, but exact figures on how many improved are not given.

3% to 5%

PMDD prevalence among reproductive-aged women (strict definition)

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome. Advances in diagnosis and treatment Authors Kessel B Journal Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America Year 2000 Study design Survey study What was tested SSRIs and other treatment approaches, reviewed from existing research Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0889-8545(05)70160-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0889-8545(05)70160-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

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

Review, 2004

How should doctors diagnose and treat PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2002

Do antidepressants help with PMDD symptoms?

Interview study, 1996

Do antidepressants help treat PMDD and similar conditions?

Review, 2026

How well do SSRIs treat PMS?

Systematic review, 2024

What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?

Review, 2024

What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?

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