Premenstrual syndrome, PMS, affects most women at some point during their life. This condition, while not dangerous, can negatively impact daily living. Levels of the sex steroid progesterone peak following ovulation. As these levels decrease, PMS symptoms increase. Prescription medications and nutritional supplements can treat these readily identifiable signs. Establishing the underlying causes using routine medical tests is the first step. Women with PMS should, therefore, consult with their doctor before receiving treatment.
Frustration
Women with PMS may exhibit over 200 different symptoms as their progesterone levels decrease. Yet, they report some of these signs more often than others. A survey by L. P. Wong and E. M. Khoo published in the May 4, 2010 edition of "International Journal of Behavioral Medicine" evaluated menstrual distress in Asian adolescents. The data showed that feelings of frustration and irritability were among the most commonly reported PMS symptoms. These signs adversely changed each girl's personal life and class work, but only 10 percent of the students sought help.
Anxiety
Feelings of anxiety are another commonly reported symptom of progesterone-related menstrual distress. Such emotions also predispose women to panic. A study by Y. I. Nillni and associates looked at the relationship between premenstrual symptoms and carbon-dioxide-induced panic. The data, presented in the May 2010 issue of "Journal of Anxiety Disorders," revealed a direct correlation between the two variables. Female subjects experiencing PMS symptoms showed the greatest panic following the inhalation of carbon dioxide. The authors speculated that women with premenstrual distress would also overreact to the bodily changes typically associated with PMS like headaches and bloating.
Depression
Women often experience waxing and waning feelings of depression. Such thoughts typically correlate with changes in progesterone level. An experiment by T. B. Pearlstein and colleagues published in the 2005 volume of "Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" indicated that female patients with PMS had depressive mood scores. A similar investigation by M. Steiner and associates presented in the May 2005 edition of "Canadian Journal of Psychiatry" revealed that these scores worsened when progesterone levels decreased. Interestingly, the Pearlstein study showed that antidepressant drugs may help alleviate such depressive feelings.
Suicide
Repeated bouts of depressive feelings can lead to suicidal thoughts. Such ideation may correlate with changes in menstrual phase and progesterone levels. An investigation by E. Baca-Garcia and his team at Columbia University tested this hypothesis in premenopausal women. Their results, published in the March 2010 issue of "Journal of Psychiatric Research," showed that suicide attempts became most frequent during menses when progesterone levels remained lowest. The women also showed the greatest commitment to the attempt at this time, and they thus had the greatest success.
References
- "International Journal of Behavioral Medicine"; Menstrual-Related Attitudes and Symptoms Among Multi-racial Asian Adolescent Females; L. P. Wong & E. M. Khoo; May 4, 2010
- "Journal of Anxiety Disorders"; Premenstrual Distress Predicts Panic-Relevant Responding to a CO2 Challenge Among Young Adult Females; Y. I. Nillni et al.; May 2010
- "Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry": Paroxetine Controlled Release for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Remission Analysis Following a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- "Journal of Psychiatric Research"; Suicide Attempts Among Women during Low Estradiol/Low Progesterone States; E. Baca-Garcia et al., March 2010
- "Canadian Journal of Psychiatry": Validation of a Revised Visual Analog Scale for Premenstrual Mood Symptoms: Results From Prospective and Retrospective Trials
