Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of symptoms that can affect your body, mood and how you act in the days before your menstrual period. Most women have tender breasts, bloating and muscle aches a few days before their periods. But when these symptoms disrupt your daily life, they are called PMS.
The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain. However, pain alone is not an indication of the extent of the disease. Some other symptoms include very painful menstrual cramps, periods that get worse over time, painful bowel movements, spotting between periods, pain during or after sex and infertility.
Premenstrual syndrome is tied to hormone changes that happen during your menstrual cycle. For many women, PMS runs in the family. Many women with PMS have a close family member with a history of PMS.
Not getting enough vitamin B6, calcium or magnesium in the foods you eat can increase your chance of getting PMS. High stress, lack of exercise and too much caffeine can make your symptoms worse.
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and do a physical exam. It’s important to make sure your symptoms aren’t caused by something else. Your doctor may want to keep a record of your symptoms for two to three months in order to track when your symptoms start, how bad they are and how long they last.
Lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, regular exercise and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine may help. If these changes don’t relieve your symptoms after a few menstrual cycles, your doctor may prescribe medicine for problems like bloating or more severe PMS symptoms.
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