Premenstrual syndrome
Characterized by varying symptoms, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) appears 7 to 14 days before menses and usually subsides with its onset. The effects of PMS range from minimal discomfort to severe, disruptive symptoms and can include nervousness, irritability, depression, and multiple somatic complaints.
Researchers believe that 70% to 90% of women experience PMS at some time during their childbearing years, usually between ages 25 and 45.
Causes
The biological theories offered to explain the cause of PMS include such conditions as a progesterone deficiency in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and vitamin deficiencies. Many have been discredited.
Failure to identify a specific disorder with a specific mechanism suggests that PMS represents various manifestations triggered by normal physiologic hormonal changes.
Signs and symptoms
Clinical features vary widely among patients and may include any combination of the following:
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