Pre- Menstrual Syndrome - Basics
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Jul / Aug VOL 5 NO 4.
Dr C H Asrani
What is PMS?
The Pre Menstrual Syndrome is a recurrent, variable cluster of troublesome, physical and emotional problems which subside when menstruation occurs.
How many women are generally affected?
The PMS affects about one third of all women, primarily those 25-40 years of age, at one time or the other. In about 10% of affected women, the syndrome may be recurrent and severe.
What are the most common symptoms?
Some women have mild to moderate discomfort a few days before or during menstruation. A few have severe symptoms of distress that may include depression, anxiety, fatigue, headache. Commonest symptoms include bloating of the body, breast enlargement and pain, swelling of the ankles, a sense of increased weight, skin disorders like itching, irritability, aggressiveness, depression, inability to concentrate, change in libido, lethargy and craving for certain foods. PMS is a disorder characterized by some or all of these symptoms. Every woman with PMS may not present with all the symptoms or signs at the same time. These can be classified as follows:
Physical :
- Water retention, swollen ankles, legs, fingers (rings won't fit), stomach (bloated feeling), puffy face.
- Tender, swollen or painful breasts
- Dull aches or pains in the back, knees or ankles.
- Headache - like a band around the forehead.
- Putting on weight
- Stomach cramps, constipation
- Tiredness, lethargy.
- Increased thirst or appetite
- Insomnia
- Tension, anxiety.
- Feeling of hopelessness, depression, sadness
- Being unstable, aggressive, violent
- Sudden mood changes - laughing one minute and crying the other
- Decreased interest in friends, social activities and hobbies.
- Difficulty in concentration
The exact cause is still not certain. It definitely has to do with the fluctuating levels of hormones that take place during Menstruation. This has been proved by the fact that suppression of ovulation by giving certain specific drugs relieves symptoms of PMS.
Are there any tests to confirm PMS?<br> No. The diagnosis is purely clinical. Careful evaluation of patient's symptoms with proper understanding is the key to diagnose PMS. A ready reckoner (given in this issue) is a great help in tabulating the signs and symptoms before and after treatment.
What is the treatment?
Current treatment methods are mostly empirical. It is the physician's duty to provide the best support possible for the patient's emotional and physical distress. More than any treatment, it is the explanation to the patient about the cause and mechanism of PMS in addition to reassurance that forms the mainstay of treatment of PMS. Some of the non-pharmacological advises given are. A diet rich in complex carbohydrates is generally recommended. Foods high in sugar content should be avoided. Salt content in diet should be reduced to reduce fluid retention. If tension or irritability predominate, use of caffeine should be minimized.
