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Do you have questions about PMS/PMDD? Get answers and interact with others at the OBGYN.net Women's Health Forum. Research the 500,000 Q&A already there.

Some interesting topics covered on PMS include:

• PMS and the Pill Peta
• PMS & Alcohol Angie
• [Birth Control] PMS Laura Stethen RN
• Continious Birth Control & PMS Linn
• [Birth Control] yasmin and pms Katie
• PMS Kathy
• PMS or bad mood Cara
• PMS vs perimenopause Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D.
• Perimenapause and or PMS Marie
• [Birth Control] PMS while on the pill anonymous
• [Birth Control] PMS anonymous
• Depovera for PMS Management....does this work? Ria
• PMS symptoms AFTER period Tiffany
• Post birth control pills - 35day cycle with 2 wks severe pms anonymous
• PMS / Anxiety Beth
• Is this a symptom of PMS? Tracy
• Headache & PMS - what is the best solution? Linn
• Clomid leads to extended PMS? Tracy
• Depression & PMS Jen

What is PMS and PMDD? Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms are usually predictable and occur regularly during the two weeks prior to menses. The symptoms may vanish after the menstrual flow starts, but may continue even after the flow has begun.

For some women with PMS, the symptoms are so severe that they are considered disabling. This form of PMS has its own psychiatric designation: premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

PMS/PMDD is a collection of symptoms. More than 200 different symptoms have been identified, but the three most prominent symptoms are irritability, tension and dysphoria (unhappiness).The exact symptoms and their intensity vary from woman to woman. Most women with premenstrual syndrome experience only a few of the problems. The following symptoms can also be attributed to PMS:

• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal cramps
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Stress or anxiety
• Agression
• Depression
• Appetite changes and food cravings
• High sexual arousal or desire
• Trouble falling asleep
• Joint or muscle pain
• Inability to finish thoughts
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Unexplained cravings
• Acne
• Body temperature increase
• Extreme tearfulness
• Worsening of existing skin disorders, and allergies or conjunctivitis

Additional Information:

Evaluation of an Electronic Diary as a Diagnostic Tool to Study Headache and Premenstrual Symptoms in Migraineurs - Goldberg J, Wolf A, Silberstein S, Gebeline-Myers C, Hopkins M, Einhorn K, Tolosa JE.

Talking About Teens' First OB/GYN Visit - M. R. Laufer, MD

OBGYN.net Fact Sheet:  PMDD or PMS a guide to print

Premenstrual Syndrome - L. M. Dickerson, PHARM.D., P. J. Mazyck, PHARM.D., & M. H. Hunter, M.D.

Sports and Menstrual Periods: The Female Athlete Triad

Contraception Online Patient Handouts

Submit your own article or paper to Barbara Nesbitt OBGYN.net Editor.

Recommended Reading

Find more books of interest in the OBGYN.net PMS-PMDD bookstore.
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Clinical Trials

Reproductive-Related Mood Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov:

• Leuprolide Acetate for the Treatment of PMS
• Study Evaluating Combination of Levonorgestrel (LNG) and Ethinyl Estradiol (EE) in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• Study Evaluating Combination of Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol in Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• Short-Term Versus Long-Term Treatment for Severe Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Antidepressant Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• Study of Menstrually-Regulated Mood and Behavioral Disorder

Search the OBGYN.net PMS/PMDD Archives for more articles.