Study, 2017
How is severe PMS (PMDD) diagnosed and what treatments do doctors recommend first?
Doctors use specific symptoms to diagnose PMDD. Several treatment options exist, though some common supplements haven't been proven to help.
What they did
Reviewed current information about diagnosing PMS and PMDD and what treatments doctors prescribe.
What they found
Severe PMS (PMDD) is diagnosed when a woman has 5 or more specific symptoms during the week before her period, and these go away a few days after her period starts. This pattern must happen for at least 2 menstrual cycles. Vitamins B6, vitamin E, and calcium have not been confirmed to help. The first treatments doctors prescribe are antidepressants or birth control pills with drospirenone. Doctors also try hormone-related medications. Regular physical activity is recommended as an initial step.
What it means for you
This explains the standard diagnostic criteria doctors use and what they typically prescribe for severe PMS first. The main limitation is that this summarizes existing medical practice, not new research comparing which treatment works best for different women.
5
Symptoms required for PMDD diagnosis
2
Menstrual cycles symptoms must occur in
About the study
- Original title
- PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME: CLINICAL PATTERN, DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
- Authors
- Lale Guliyeva, Svetlana V Yureneva
- Journal
- Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 5
- What was tested
- Diagnostic criteria and treatment options
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.21518/2079-701x-2017-2-106-111
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2026
What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD?
Systematic review, 2024
What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?
Systematic review, 2022
What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?
Review, 2015
What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?
Review, 2008
What medications are FDA-approved for treating PMDD?
Randomised trial, 2003
What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?