How bad do symptoms of PMS get?

Pre-menstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a word that is banded around a lot when you get your periods and throughout your life. A lot of women, and men, blame PMS for certain behaviours or symptoms that are experienced in the days or week leading up to the period.

• Tired? PMS
• Angry? PMS
• Headaches?  PMS
• Tender breasts? PMS

But what is normal PMS? And how much should we be putting up with?

Most people have ‘normal’ levels of PMS symptoms and they are manageable and disappear after their period starts. We can take some steps to reduce these even further by considering the following:

• A balanced diet
• Good sleep pattern
• Exercise has been proven to help with PMS

Some people are also put on the contraceptive pill to help with PMS symptoms, although it is important to know this can make things worse as well as better.

There are also several things which can change the way your experience PMS:

• Weight loss or weight gain
• Over exercising
• Extreme stress
• Changes in medication
• Thyroid disease

What is NOT normal PMS?

Extreme pain associated with your cycle is NOT normal. Please do not put up with it! You should not suffer in silence. It is extremely important this is looked into so we can ascertain if the pain is actually down to another hormonal medical condition such as PCOS or endometriosis, or unlinked to hormones. Either way, it needs investigating.

What is PMDD?

Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD is a debilitating form of PMS which is often underdiagnosed and poorly understood. Around 3-8% of women get PMDD rather than PMS and symptoms tend to be much more intense with high levels of suicidal thoughts or extreme hopelessness, panic attacks, extreme irritability amongst others.

There is a huge lack of research in this area, and some women are suffering with physical symptoms such as extreme pain, deep pelvic aching, cramping, extreme bleeding and clots, and emotional symptoms such as those above. Please do seek help. At The Bespoke Clinic we will take your concerns seriously and may be able to help balance your hormones to make these extreme symptoms more tolerable. If we feel you need further referral, we will organise this for you so you’re properly managed.